Oct. 26, 2009
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The Penn State men's soccer team (9-4-2) will cap off a three-game road stretch on Wednesday when it travels to north central Ohio to meet undefeated and No. 1-ranked national powerhouse Akron (15-0-0). Game time is set for 7:30 p.m. at the home of the Zips, Lee Jackson Field.
The Nittany Lions picked up their second win away from home last Wednesday when they visited local Lewisburg, Pa. for a match-up with regional rival Bucknell and came away 2-1 victors. Penn State got on the board in the 29th minute when a throw-in from deep in the BU zone by sophomore forward Corey Hertzog (Reading, Pa.) was headed into net by a Bucknell defender for an own goal. Hertzog then netted the game winner 10 minutes into the second half. Redshirt junior Andy Parr (Hummelstown, Pa.) earned his first career assist on the play.
Redshirt sophomore goalkeeper Warren Gross (Saratoga Springs, N.Y.) was brilliant in goal, recording six saves, including several spectacular lead-preserving stops in the second half.
With three games remaining, the Penn State attack has produced 29 goals, the most since 2004 when it posted 37, and has been shut out just once. Senior forward and team captain Jason Yeisley (Allentown, Pa.) leads the team in goals with eight and points with 20 and tops the Big Ten in shots and shots per game. Both Corey Hertzog and junior midfielder Matheus Braga (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) are in the midst of breakout seasons. Hertzog ranks second on the team in goals (7) and points (20) and is tied with Braga for the top spot in assists with five. Braga, in his second season as a Nittany Lion, has also contributed five goals. Junior midfielder Drew Cost (West Chester, Pa.) has added a career-high eight points (3 goals, 2 assists).
The Penn State defense, which has surrendered just 13 goals in 15 games, is on the verge of posting its best year since the Big Ten Championship season of 2005 when it allowed 18 goals in 22 games. Consistency and health has been the biggest key, as the starting back line of Justin Lee (Derwood, Md.), Mark Fetrow (West Chester, Pa.), Andres Casais (Caracas, Venezuela), and Andy Parr have started 57 of a possible 60 games. Warren Gross is among the Big Ten leaders in shutouts (7) and goals against average (0.62).
Akron has attained juggernaut status with a dominating season of historic proportions. In 15 games, the Zips' attack has produced an NCAA-best 42 goals (2.8/game). Sophomore forward Teal Bunbury is AU's leading scorer (12-3-27) but Michael Nanchoff (5-9-19), Darlington Nagbe (7-2-16), and Kofi Sarkodie (2-6-10) have each also reached double figures in points. A total of nine Zips have netted multiple goals. Even more impressive are the numbers put up by the Akron defense. It has allowed just three goals all season, including none in five home games, and has limited opponents to one or fewer shots on goal six times in 2009. The Zips have gone 27 games since allowing a goal in the first half and 51 matches since they last trailed at halftime. Goalkeeper David Meves leads the nation in goals against average (0.21).
Though members of different conferences, Penn State and Akron have developed a rivalry of familiarity over the last 15 years, having played 13 times counting Wednesday's game. The Nittany Lions own an 11-9-2 all-time record versus the Zips, including a 5-5-2 mark since 1995. A year ago, Penn State played then-No. 2 Akron to a 1-1 draw at Jeffrey Field, getting a goal from Mark Fetrow, the first of his collegiate career.
Fans can follow all of the action of the Penn State-Akron match-up on the Internet with live stats and instant scoring updates. Find a link on the official website of Nittany Lion athletics, www.GoPSUsports.com.
Penn State men's soccer supporters can also keep up-to-date on the team throughout the season with exclusive notes, information, and photos by way of Twitter. Go to twitter.com and search psusportsjr to become a follower.
With their longest road stint of 2009 in the books, the Nittany Lions return home to Happy Valley this weekend for a critical Big Ten contest with Wisconsin (6-6-2, 3-2-0 Big Ten) on Sat., Oct. 31. The Halloween match-up, which is scheduled for a 3 p.m. start at Jeffrey Field, will be aired on a tape delay basis on the Big Ten Network (Sun., Nov. 1, 4 p.m.). Penn State will be looking to avenge a 4-1 loss suffered last season in Madison, Wis. The Lions own an 11-9-2 record all-time versus the Badgers.
Senior Day festivities will also highlight Saturday, with Diego Correa (Niteroi, Brazil), Frank Costigliola (Dix Hills, N.Y.), Vincent Salvatico (Chester Springs, Pa.), Jacobo Vera (Pamplona, Spain), and Jason Yeisley being honored in a special pre-game ceremony.