Oct. 23, 2010
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Senior forward Treavor Gelsinger (Shady Grove, Pa.) made his final regular season game at Jeffrey Field an unforgettable one and sent the alums in attendance for Penn State's 100-year anniversary celebration home with a fond memory of the eventful day, as his overtime goal in the 97th minute propelled the Nittany Lions to a thrilling 2-1 victory over No. 25 Ohio State (7-5-2, 2-2-0) on Saturday afternoon.
Gelsinger's goal was his first of the season and it came opportunely on Senior Day. He and his fellow classmates Matheus Braga (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil), Andres Casais (Caracas, Venezuela), Drew Cost (West Chester, Pa.), and Andy Parr (Hummelstown, Pa.) were recognized in a ceremony following the game, just minutes after Gelsinger's score provided Penn State (9-5-1, 2-2-1) with a key conference win. It was all part of a special day in which representatives of eight decades of Penn State soccer were welcomed back to Happy Valley to commemorate the program's centennial.
The game, which was broadcast by the Big Ten Network on a tape delay basis, will air on Sun., Oct. 24 at 7 p.m..
Braga also shared the Senior Day spotlight, scoring a goal and assisting on Gelsinger's game winner. Sophomore Daniel Burnham (Boise, Idaho) tallied his first point as a Nittany Lion, earning an assist. Penn State outshot Ohio State, 17-13, for the game, including an 8-3 advantage in shots on goal.
The first half was marked by back-and-forth play with neither team able to definitively wrest control of possession and play. Penn State totaled nine shots to just three for the Buckeyes, but none were strongly threatening, save one.
In the 22nd minute, Braga triggered the play by lofting the ball into the box off a free kick. After getting knocked around between the two teams, the ball game to Gelsinger, who was situated near the top of the box. He then lobbed a pass deeper into the Ohio State zone towards a cluster of Penn State players. Drew Cost made an athletic play on the ball, flicking it towards goal with his heel, but the shot popped just high of net.
Ohio State had the run of things early in the second half and that pressure resulted in the game's first goal. Parnell Hegngi initiated the play, drawing a foul on the near wing and earning the Buckeyes a free kick. Austin McAnena took it and served a pass into the box that connected with the head of Ryan Lee. His shot bounced high off the ground and over the outstretched hands of Penn State goalkeeper Brendan Birmingham (West Chester, Pa.) and into net.
Penn State answered back in the 77th minute, gaining the coveted equalizer. Sophomore defender Brian Forgue (Glenmoore, Pa.) was the catalyst, clearing an Ohio State entry pass with a diving header that pushed the ball back towards midfield. Burnham caught up with the rolling ball and played it upfield to Braga. Cutting to the middle and then back outside, Braga created space and launched a shot to the far post that skimmed past Ohio State goalkeeper Matt Lampson's diving stab.
A game winner was not forthcoming in regulation, sending Penn State to overtime for the fourth consecutive game and setting up Gelsinger's heroics.
Junior defender Mark Fetrow (West Chester, Pa.) intercepted a pass near midfield to begin the run. Finding Braga with a pass, the Big Ten's assist leader sent the ball wide to Gelsinger. Smartly seeing Lampson off his line and aggressively coming out to challenge, Gelsinger chipped an on-target shot over the goalkeeper's head from 12 yards out, sending the crowd of 3,000-plus Nittany Lions fans into a frenzy.
Next week, the Nittany Lions begin a three-game road swing to finish out the 2010 regular season on Wed., Oct. 27 when they visit Philadelphia for a 7:30 p.m. game with No. 15 Penn (10-2-0). Penn State holds a 20-6-3 record in its all-time series versus the Quakers. A year ago, the Lions routed Penn, 5-0, at Jeffrey Field.
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PENN STATE TO HOST 2010 BIG TEN MEN'S SOCCER TOURNAMENT
From November 11-14, Penn State will host the 2010 Big Ten Tournament at Jeffrey Field. The Nittany Lions have hosted the annual conference postseason event on three occasions, with the last coming in 2002. Call 814-865-5555 (Mon.-Fri., 10 a.m.-6 p.m.) to order tickets or download a ticket order form