Oct. 1, 2011
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The No. 19 Penn State men's soccer team surrendered two goals in the span of 15-plus minutes late in the second half of its Big Ten showdown with Michigan (3-7-1, 1-1-0) and fell to the Wolverines, 2-1, on a rain-soaked Saturday night at Jeffrey Field. The two goals were the first allowed by the Nittany Lions at home this season.
Penn State (5-3-2, 0-2-0) dominated possession throughout the game and outshot Michigan, 16-6, but couldn't capitalize on numerous scoring opportunities, particularly in the first half when it put six shots on goal.
Senior defender Mark Fetrow (West Chester, Pa.) accounted for Penn State's score, netting his first goal of the season. Senior midfielder Mackenzie Arment (Manheim, Pa.) combined with Fetrow on the play, earning his first assist of 2011. Defensively, freshman goalkeeper Andrew Wolverton (Snellville, Ga.) recorded two saves.
Michigan used a Penn State turnover to take a 1-0 lead in the 76th minute. Etienne Lussiez was the beneficiary of the gift and made the Nittany Lions pay by, after being left alone near the top of the box, banging in left-rooted rocket from 20 yards out.
Penn State answered back in the 89th minute. Arment centered a pass from the near wing, seeking a finisher in the box. The ball found the head of the 6-5 Fetrow, who outjumped his mark and punched it into the back of the net.
The Lions' lead lasted just 18 seconds, as the Wolverines scored the game winner on the ensuing possession. Following a free kick, Penn State could not clear the ball out of the box and UM's Ezekiel Harris cleaned up the garbage, putting the ball into net from up close.
Penn State has one final chance when, with just over 10 seconds remaining, junior forward Hasani Sinclair (Coral Gables, Fla.) crossed a pass wide to senior defender Matt Smallwood (Cochranville, Pa.), who was making an open run towards goal. However, Smallwood's chip shot was saved by Michigan goalkeeper Adam Grinwis.
Three of Penn State's best chances to take a first half lead came just seconds apart in the 35th minute but luck was not on the side of the Nittany Lions. Junior midfielder Jacob Barron (La Mirada, Calif.) lobbed a shot on goal that Grinwis lost sight of. The ball bounced off the shoulder of the UM keeper, glanced off the crossbar, and fell in front of net. Sophomore forward Jordan Tyler's (Rochester, Mich.) follow-up point blank shot was saved but not controlled. Junior defender Brian Forgue (Glenmoore, Pa.) had one last prime scoring opportunity but his offering hit off the post.
In the second half, Penn State had another open door to score just minutes before Michigan took its first lead of the game. Smallwood made a dangerous run deep into the box, causing the Wolverine keeper to come off his line. Maneuvering around Grinwis' diving attempt to stem his run, Smallwood had a look at an open goal but could not get a shot off. Arment ended up with the ball but his arcing, twisting chip shot at the unmanned net sailed just wide.
Penn State will finish out a three-game home stand on Tuesday, Oct. 4 when it takes on in-state foe Penn (5-2-1) in a 7 p.m. contest at Jeffrey Field. In 2010, the Nittany Lions upped their all-time record versus the Quakers to 21-6-3 with a 2-1 win in Philadelphia.
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