Nov. 24, 2010
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - In recognition of his exceptional 2010 season, Penn State's Corey Hertzog (Reading, Pa.) has been honored as the TopDrawerSoccer.com National Player of the Year. The junior forward also headlines the 11-player first team "Team of the Season" compiled by TDS.
After receiving no preseason All-America mention following a standout sophomore year, Hertzog exploded onto the national collegiate soccer season in 2010, fashioning the greatest offensive season by a Nittany Lion in 55 years and what could potentially stand as the best in Big Ten history.
Hertzog has netted an NCAA-best 20 goals, the most by a Penn State player since all-time leading scorer Jim Stamatis equaled that mark in his Hermann Trophy winning season of 1979. His goal total also ranks him fourth in the program record book behind only Bill Fiedler (21, 1957), Jack Pinezich (23, 1952), and Dick Packer (24, 1955) and positions him in a first place tie for goals in a single season in Big Ten history with Indiana's Dema Kovalenko (1997) and Aleksey Korol (1999).
With 46 points, Hertzog ranks second on the Penn State and Big Ten season points list, trailing only Packer (50, 1955) and Korol (50, 1999), respectively. He has already established himself as the all-time Penn State and Big Ten record holder for shots in a season, totaling 114 thus far in 2010.
Hertzog, who has totaled 80 points (33 goals, 14 assists) in three years, good enough for 13th on Penn State's career list, currently leads the nation in four major offensive statistical categories, points per game (2.19), total points (46), goals per game (0.95), and total goals (20).
Last weekend, the unanimous First Team All-Big Ten selection totaled three goals, the second hat trick of his career, and one assist to lead the Nittany Lions to a decisive 4-1 win over Old Dominion in a second round contest of the 2010 NCAA Championship. The victory was Penn State's first in the NCAA postseason since 2005.
Combining with Hertzog to form one of the nation's most prolific scoring tandems in 2010 is senior midfielder Matheus Braga (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil), who was recognized on TopDrawerSoccer.com's Third Team. Also a unanimous First Team All-Big Ten honoree, the native Brazilian has etched his name in both the Penn State and Big Ten record books in 2010, becoming the single season leader in assists, totaling 17. In just three years in Happy Valley, Braga has notched 28 assists, ranking him in a fourth-place tie with Neil Piper (1991-93) on the PSU career assists list. He currently is second on the team in both goals (tie, 5) and points (27).
Forward Jordan Tyler (Rochester, Mich.) was also recognized by TopDrawerSoccer.com, receiving honorable mention on its All-Rookie Team. In his first year as a Nittany Lion, he made an immediate impact, complementing the play of front line mate Corey Hertzog. Playing in 21 games, while making 11 starts, he scored five goals and tallied three assists, ranking him third on the team with 13 points.
Penn State (14-7-1) will continue NCAA postseason play on Sun., Nov. 28 when it meets No. 2 seed Maryland (18-2-1) at Ludwig Field in College Park for a third round 2010 championship contest. Game time is scheduled for 5 p.m. A year ago, the Lions saw their season come to an end versus the Terrapins, falling, 2-1, in a second round NCAA match-up in University Park.
NOTE: Penn State records established prior to joining the Big Ten in 1991 are not included in the conference record book.