Aug. 16, 2010
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Amid an air of high anticipation and expectations, the 2010 edition of the Penn State men's soccer team officially commenced training camp on Monday morning when first year head coach Bob Warming held the opening practice of the preseason.
Penn State returns 16 letterwinners and nine starters, including four All-Big Ten selections, from last year's squad that won 12 games, advanced to the Big Ten Tournament title game, and earned a berth in the NCAA Championship. Among those back in action in the blue and white today were 2009 top scorer Corey Hertzog (Reading, Pa.), assist leader Matheus Braga (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil), minutes played leader Andres Casais (Caracas, Venezuela), and 22-game starting goalkeeper Warren Gross (Saratoga Springs, N.Y.). Casais, along with senior midfielder Drew Cost (West Chester, Pa.), will co-captain the Nittany Lions in 2010.
New faces could also be found at training camp, starting at the top with head coach Bob Warming and assistant coach Jason Mims. Warming, who came to Happy Valley from Creighton University, has enjoyed a three-plus decade head coaching career marked by distinction, achievement, and success. The six-time finalist for national coach of the year and 2008 winner of the award, according to FieldTurf Tarkett, holds a lofty place in the NCAA record book, ranking sixth among active Division I head coaches and 15th in Division I history with 383 victories. Mims has been an assistant coach under Warming at Saint Louis and Creighton for the past 10 years. On the field, freshmen midfieder/forward Jordan Tyler (Rochester, Mich.), a Gatorade Player of the Year candidate and top 50 recruit, international import Ehjay Henry (Harris Village, Saint Kitts), and defender Sepp Dasbach (Blue Bell, Pa.) will look to make an immediate impact.
The Nittany Lions will make their first appearance under Warming on Sat., Aug. 21 when they host Hartwick at Jeffrey Field in a 7:30 p.m. exhibition match. The following day, Sun., Aug. 22, the men's team, in conjunction with the PSU women's squad, will co-host a free youth clinic and autograph session at 2:30 p.m. on Little Jeffrey Field, allowing fans and youths of all ages to meet the team and learn instruction from two of the foremost coaches in college soccer.
Penn State will open the 2010 regular season on Fri. Sept. 3 with a 5 p.m. contest against Buffalo at Ohio State's Wolstein Classic in Columbus.
The 2010 season will be a special one for the Penn State men's soccer program, as it will mark its 100th year anniversary with a season-long celebration. Penn State will also serve as hosts of the Big Ten Tournament (Nov. 11-14) for the third time since joining the conference in 1991 and for the first time since 2002.