Sept. 2, 2011
COLUMBUS, Ohio - The No. 15 Penn State men's soccer team couldn't hold an early two-goal lead and fell to Stetson (2-0-0), 3-2, on Friday evening in Columbus, Ohio in opening day action of the Wolstein Classic.
Juniors Julian Cardona (Lincoln, Neb.) and Minh Vu (Tucson, Ariz.) accounted for the Nittany Lions' goals, with each scoring his second of the season. Senior Mackenzie Arment (Manheim, Pa.) earned his first assist and point of the season. Freshman goalkeeper Andrew Wolverton (Snellville, Ga.), who was starting his third consecutive game, suffered his first collegiate loss.
Penn State (2-1-0) started fast despite a heat index of near 100 at game time, scoring just one minute into the game. After winning a throw-in from senior Matt Smallwood (Cochranville, Pa.) deep in Stetson's third of the field, junior Marvin Ledgister (London, England) flicked a pass to deep into the box. Cardona then poked the service in from five yards out to give Penn State a 1-0 lead.
The Nittany Lions would add another goal just over four minutes later. Off a corner kick from Smallwood, Ledgister posted up his mark from the edge of the six-yard box and laid a ball back to Vu. Beating his man, Vu started towards goal but was taken down in the box, earning PSU a penalty kick. Vu took it and his shot was true.
The second half belonged to Stetson, as the Hatters scored three goals in just under 20 minutes to claim the lead and eventually the win. Jonathan Mendoza bookended the scoring stretch with goals, scoring first in the 63rd minute and then again in the 82nd. Ryan Asare-Bediako netted the other Hatters goal, finding net with exactly 16 minutes remaining in the game.
The Nittany Lions were outshot for the game, 14-10, and Stetson had a 9-6 advantage in corner kicks.
Penn State will finish out play at the 2011 Wolstein Classic on Sunday when it faces Florida International at 11 a.m.
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