Oct. 6, 2010
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The Penn State men's soccer team earned its first home shutout of the season on Wednesday evening at a wet and slippery Jeffrey Field, blanking BIG EAST leader Villanova (6-4-1), 1-0. With the win, the Nittany Lions up their season record to 7-3-0 before entering a crucial stretch of their 2010 schedule.
Senior midfielder Drew Cost (West Chester, Pa.) scored the game's lone goal, netting his second of the season. Junior midfielder Mackenzie Arment (Manheim, Pa.) earned his sixth assist of the year on Cost's game winner. Redshirt freshman goalkeeper Brendan Birmingham (West Chester, Pa.) recorded his first career shutout, making three saves.
It was slow going for Penn State at the game's outset, as the Lions looked to get organized offensively. Birmingham passed an early test on the defensive end, saving a 20-yard straightaway smash from Villanova's Kyle Soroka just under four minutes into the game.
Penn State didn't register its first shot of the game until the 16th minute but the attempt nearly gave the Nittany Lions the lead. Junior forward Corey Hertzog (Reading, Pa.) fought hard for possession of a ball on the near wing as it rolled near the end line. Getting his foot on the ball before it went out of bounds, he centered a pass that glanced off a Wildcat defender and came to Mackenzie Arment near the far post. Arment's up close shot was blocked, however, never making it on goal.
Under four minutes later, Penn State would convert on another scoring opportunity to take a 1-0 lead. On the far wing, Arment fed a through ball to Drew Cost who was making a run into the box. Cost received the pass and bent a low left-footed shot into net past Villanova goalkeeper Chris Bresnahan.
The Nittany Lions nearly doubled their advantage in the 24th minute. Arment again triggered the play, targeting Hertzog, who was bolting through the Villanova defense, with a perfect pass. Getting past the charging VU goalkeeper, Hertzog's shot on an open net, but from an awkward angle, and hit the post.
After the halftime break, the Penn State defense held the Villanova offense in check, limiting it to just three second half shots. Meanwhile, the Nittany Lion attack had its chances to build on the team's, particularly late in the game. Hertzog had two near misses after being targeted with long passes from freshman forward Jordan Tyler (Rochester, Mich.) and junior midfielder Matt Smallwood (Cochranville, Pa.) and junior defender Justin Lee (Derwood, Md.) rocketed a shot from 22 yards out just wide left of net.
In the end, the defense held firm against all Villanova threats and Penn State was able to secure its third home of the season.
The Nittany Lions will finish out a three-game home stand next week with marquee match-ups against Big Ten contender No. 18 Michigan State (Sun., Oct. 10) and 2009 NCAA runner-up No. 1 Akron (Wed., Oct. 13). The Nittany Lions defeated the Spartans last season, 1-0, in East Lansing, upping their all-time series record to 17-8-2. Penn State is 13-12-5 versus Akron but has gone winless versus the Zips in their last five meetings, including last season's 3-0 road loss.