Aug. 22, 2011
In year one of the Bob Warming era, Penn State continued on a path of success, moving closer to positioning the program among the nation's elite. The Nittany Lions won 14 games, the most by a PSU team since 2002, played for the Big Ten Tournament title for the second consecutive season, and advanced to the third round of the NCAA Championship. Penn State fielded one of the nation's most prolific offenses in 2010, totaling 144 points in 23 games, and featured the NCAA's top goal scorer in Corey Hertzog and the nation's leader in assists in Matheus Braga.
As it was in 2010, change will be a prominent theme as the Nittany Lion program enters the second season under Warming. Gone are 11 letterwinners and six starters, replaced by a group of 12 newcomers that includes five transfers. Assistants Jason Mims and Isang Jacob are now running their own Division I programs, accepting head coaching positions at Nebraska-Omaha and IUPUI, respectively. Joining Warming's staff are two highly-respected and talented coaches in Bo Oshoniyi, who was previously at ACC power Wake Forest, and Chad Duernberger, a former NSCAA Division II Coach of the Year at the University of Charleston.
"I am really happy for and proud of both Jason and Isang. Our sport gained two great head coaches," said Warming. "We had a lot of people who were interested in coming here, but I went out and recruited two guys."
"Bo has been every place our players want to be. He has won a collegiate and MLS championship and has been an NCAA player of the year and a 12-year pro. He will have great lessons to give. Chad is a rising star. What he had to do on his own to transform a losing program into a winning program is just remarkable."
Also similar to 2010, a year in which Penn State's 100th year of soccer was celebrated, a significant milestone will be marked in 2011. Head coach Bob Warming will begin the season just three wins shy of 400 for his distinguished career. When the 34-year veteran attains that benchmark, he will join an exclusive club that possesses a membership numbering just 30 coaches in the history of Division I men's soccer.
With Hertzog moved onto the MLS and Braga graduated, taking along with them their combined 73 points, much of Penn State's ability to take another step forward as a program in 2011 will be predicated on improvement on the defensive end.
"Having the nation's leading scorer and the nation's leader in assists on the same team doesn't happen very often," said Warming. "What Hertzog and Braga did was a special accomplishment and it will be a tough act to follow. The reality is is that we would have had a very poor season if either of them had been injured because we gave up 30 goals last year. We have got to strengthen our defending. We have got to change that culture in our program and it needs to start now."
The Nittany Lion defense will be anchored by seniors Justin Lee, Mark Fetrow, and Matt Smallwood, the team captain for the 2011 season, and junior Brian Forgue. The veteran group combined for 77 starts in 2010 while Smallwood led the team in minutes played. Lee has found a home in the central defense after playing in the midfield in years previous while Fetrow, Smallwood, and Forgue each bring, toughness, attitude, and a physical presence to the line-up.
"We have got to get the back four established early and work with them and make it their job to lose," commented Warming. "We just have not been good enough in the back and we need them. Leadership is going to be a point of emphasis and we need that out of them early on."
Another reason why the play of the back line will be so critical is the collective youth of the goalkeeper corps. None of the three goalkeepers on the 2011 Penn State roster have yet to make a collegiate start.
Redshirt sophomore Micah Collins, the lone holdover from last year's squad, has "worked hard in the offseason to improve his fitness and his angles," according to Warming. Promising freshmen Andrew Wolverton and Danny Sheerin are the other contenders for the starting spot. Wolverton, a heralded recruit from Snellville, Ga., was recently named a First Team ESPN Rise All-American and has served several stints with the U-18 U.S. National Team, while Sheerin, a native of College Park, Md., led his high school team to an undefeated record and state championship as a senior.
Penn State's strength lies in the depth and talent of its midfield players. Senior Mackenzie Arment, who was one of just two players to start all 23 games in 2010, headlines the group. The team's returning assist leader with nine, his excellent vision and passing ability make him an asset on the attack and his fearless approach allows for contributions on the defensive end. Junior Jacob Barron, a transfer from UC Davis who has been with the program since enrolling in January, will also be a key figure in the Nittany Lion midfield.
"Jacob wins more tackles than anyone I have ever coached," said Warming. "He is a terrific passer and reads the game really well. He is a warrior."
Two junior college transfers, Minh Vu and Marvin Ledgister, will also add creativity and a dynamic element to the line-up. "They have special abilities, attacking wise," in Warming's view. Vu is lightning quick with exceptional feet while Ledgister, at 6-2, 195, will cause mismatch problems due to his size. Junior Daniel Parr made great strides in the offseason and could fill an important role on set pieces.
The effectiveness of the Penn State attack will rely heavily on the continued development of sophomore Jordan Tyler and the ability of junior transfers Hasani Sinclair and Julian Cardona to quickly mesh with their new teammates.
Tyler is the Nittany Lions' returning leading scorer, totaling five goals and three assists in 22 games as a freshman.
"Jordan has made a lot of progress. He had made a huge commitment this offseason, playing for up to three teams during the week to hone himself into a higher level of fitness. He is a fitter, stronger, and faster player. We are expecting big things out of him," said Warming.
Sinclair was a top weapon at South Florida for his first two collegiate seasons, recording 22 points, while Cardona, the Horizon League Newcomer of the Year in 2009, was a major part of Butler's success the last two years.
"Hasani will be one of the fastest players in the Big Ten. He is big and powerful and can get behind teams and stretch the defense," said Warming. "Julian's strength is his ability to shoot off the dribble with both feet."
The 2011 schedule will be among the nation's most challenging, as it features match-ups with 10 opponents that earned berths to the NCAA Championship a year ago. During a rigorous stretch in the month of October, Penn State will play six road games, five of which will be against teams that were 2010 NCAA postseason qualifiers, including defending national champion Akron.
"I have been told that October is going to be really, really tough, but we have a lot of games to try to win before then. I don't want to look too far ahead. In September, everyone is good in Division I. Anybody can beat anybody. We have got to get a good rhythm going with the team in September," said Warming.
The Big Ten, which boasted the nation's No. 1 conference RPI in 2010, will be equally competitive in 2011. Penn State will host defending Big Ten Tournament champions Michigan (Oct. 1), Northwestern (Oct. 16) and Wisconsin (Nov. 5) and travel to face reigning conference regular season title winners Indiana (Sept. 23), Michigan State (Oct. 9), and Ohio State (Oct. 23).
Penn State proved to be a popular draw in 2010, as it finished the season ranked No. 13 in the NCAA in average attendance, attracting 1,842 fans per game. Nittany Lion supporters returning in 2011 will find a new-look Jeffrey Field, as the award-winning pitch was refurbished in the offseason. The new surface will provide the Nittany Lions with the same type of turf upon which the world-class clubs of England's Premiership and the Spanish La Liga compete. The faster pitch will lend for an exciting style of play, promising to treat fans who come out to Jeffrey Field a good show this year and for seasons to come.