Feb. 24, 2012
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The Penn State men's soccer program has released its 2012 spring schedule, revealing six dates that feature match-ups with four NCAA opponents, one local professional team, and an international club team. The Nittany Lions will play the all of their spring games at home, either indoors at Holuba Hall or outside at their training complex.
Penn State will open its 2012 spring season on Sunday, March 18 when regional foe Saint Francis (Pa.) visits Holuba Hall for a 1:30 p.m. scrimmage. The Nittany Lions recorded one of their program-record 12 shutouts against the Red Flash in 2011, claiming a 1-0 win in Happy Valley.
A week later, Penn State will host BIG EAST power St. John's in Holuba Hall. Game time is approximately 1 p.m. In 2011, the Red Storm finished 14-7-2, won the BIG EAST Tournament, and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Championship.
On Sunday, April 1 at 3 p.m., the Nittany Lions will face Syracuse at the Penn State Training Complex, located adjacent to Jeffrey Field and in the shadows of Beaver Stadium. The 2011 Orangemen were 3-12-1 overall, placing eighth in the BIG EAST Red Division with a 1-7-1 record.
Penn State will take on its fourth and final NCAA opponent of the spring on Thursday, April 5 when another regional rival, Bucknell, travels to University Park for a 7 p.m. game on the Nittany Lions' practice field. Last season, the Lions battled the Bison to a 0-0 tie in Lewisburg.
Three days later, on Sunday, April 8, Penn State will host Winstars, a club team from Canada, for a 12:30 p.m. exhibition contest. The Winstars Soccer Consulting and Academy, which is headquartered in Woodbridge, Ont., focuses on professionally-centered soccer development, preparing elite players for U.S. collegiate and worldwide pro league competitions.
Penn State will conclude its 2012 spring schedule on Wednesday, April 11 when the Harrisburg City Islanders, a professional team from the United Soccer League's Second Division and an official affiliate of the MLS' Philadelphia Union, comes to Happy Valley for a 4 p.m. game. The City Islanders finished in fifth in the league in 2011 with a 10-7-7 record. Former Nittany Lion Anthony Calvano is a five-year veteran of the team.
Nittany Lion head coach Bob Warming, who attained his milestone 400th career win in 2011, returns 13 letterwinners and eight starters from last season's team that advanced to the Big Ten Tournament title game for the third consecutive year, broke the Penn State record for shutouts in a season, and led the conference in goals allowed and goals against average. Among the returnees are the team's top three scorers in Minh Vu (Tucson, Ariz.), Julian Cardona (Lincoln, Neb.), and Hasani Sinclair (Coral Gables, Fla.) and the anchor of the PSU defense, goalkeeper Andrew Wolverton (Snellville, Ga.).
2012 PENN STATE MEN'S SOCCER SPRING SCHEDULE
Sunday, March 18
Saint Francis (Pa.), 1:30 p.m. (Holuba Hall)
Saturday, March 24
St. John's, 1 p.m. (Holuba Hall)
Sunday, April 1
Syracuse, 3 p.m. (Penn State Training Complex)
Thursday, April 5
Bucknell, 7 p.m. (Penn State Training Complex)
Sunday, April 8
Winstars Academy, 12:30 p.m. (Penn State Training Complex)
Wednesday, April 11
Harrisburg City Islanders, 4 p.m. (Penn State Training Complex)