Aug. 28, 2010
FORT WAYNE, Ind. - The Penn State men's soccer team capped off the 2010 preseason with a 2-1 victory over defending BIG EAST red division champion Louisville on Saturday evening in Fort Wayne, Ind. The exhibition match was held as part of the National Soccer Festival, an event that featured all seven Big Ten teams.
"Louisville was the better team in terms of possession," said Penn State head coach Bob Warming. "They were the aggressor. But I told the guys, `win the game you are in.' And, to their credit, they did."
"Louisville is a great team. Ken Lolla has does a wonderful job there. They will go far in the NCAA Tournament."
Junior forward Corey Hertzog (Reading, Pa.), a Second Team All-Big Ten selection a year ago, netted both Penn State goals. Freshman forward Jordan Tyler (Rochester, Mich.) tallied two assists while junior midfielder Mackenzie Arment (Manheim, Pa.) notched one. Redshirt freshman Brendan Birmingham (West Chester, Pa.) logged all 90 minutes in goal. Complete stats for the game were not provided.
Penn State struck first, scoring off a counterattack. After a Louisville corner kick, Jordan Tyler found Corey Hertzog with a pass near the bottom of the center circle on the Nittany Lions' attacking end. Hertzog split two defenders while maintaining possession and buried a shot in net, claiming the lead for Penn State.
Louisville gained the equalizer in the waning seconds of the first half, scoring near post off a corner kick.
The Nittany Lions showed resilience and battled through the deflation of giving up the late goal by coming out strong from the break. The tie-breaking play started off a goal kick by Brendan Birmingham. Tyler received the kick, chested it to himself, and then hit Mackenzie Arment, who was stationed wide right of the goal, with a pass. Arment took a shot that was saved but not controlled. Proving to be in the right place at the right time, Hertzog got his foot on the rebound and put it in for the game winner.
With the win, Penn State finishes the preseason with a 2-0 record after defeating Hartwick, 3-1, last weekend in University Park. Corey Hertzog led the Lions with five points while Jordan Tyler collected four. Mackenzie Arment recorded an assist in each game.
The Nittany Lions will begin regular season play next weekend when they meet Buffalo on Fri., Sept. 3 (5 p.m.) at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium in Columbus as part of host Ohio State's Wolstein Classic. Penn State will conclude competition at the Buckeyes' annual tournament on Sun., Sept. 5 when it battles the College of Charleston (12 p.m.) for the first time in program history.
The following weekend, the Nittany Lions will open their 2010 home schedule when they face Bucknell (Fri., Sept. 10, 7:30 p.m.) and Binghamton (Sun., Sept. 12, 2:30 p.m.) as host of the Penn State Classic.
NOTES: Penn State's starting line-up consisted of John Gallagher (Pine Bush, N.Y.), Andres Casais (Caracas, Venezuela), Mark Fetrow (West Chester, Pa.), Matt Smallwood (Cochranville, Pa.), Drew Cost (West Chester, Pa.), Justin Lee (Derwood, Md.), Mackenzie Arment, Patrick Krispin (The Woodlands, Texas), Corey Hertzog, Jordan Tyler, and Brendan Birmingham...Subs included Andy Parr (Hummelstown, Pa.), Matheus Braga (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil), Rafa Faria (Miami, Fla.), and Daniel Burnham (Boise, Idaho).