Oct. 5, 2012
| BTN2Go
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -Penn State men's soccer travels to Ann Arbor, Mich., this weekend for a showdown with conference foe Michigan. The Nittany Lions (6-3-1, 1-1-0 B1G) take on the Wolverines (3-5-0, 1-1-0 B1G) at 7 p.m. Saturday.
WE'VE GOT YOU COVERED
The game will be available live on the Big Ten Network's BTN2Go streaming, while a replay of the contest is scheduled to air on television at 9 p.m. Saturday. A second opportunity to watch is set for 6 a.m. Monday.
ON THE HORIZON
Following the tilt with Michigan, the Lions return home for another three-game homestand. The schedule includes Akron Oct. 10, Michigan State Oct. 14 and Bucknell Oct. 17.
A LOOK AT THE WOLVERINES
Michigan enters the match on a high note after downing Ohio State, 3-2, in double overtime Sept. 30 to improve to 1-1-0 in Big Ten competition.
The Wolverines have spread the scoring touch around, as nine players have tallied a goal this autumn. The trio of Fabio Pereira, Latif Alashe and Kofi Opare has accounted for half of the team's scoring, as each player claims two goals. Goalkeeper Adam Grinwis has logged each minute between the pipes for the Maize and Blue, earning a 1.55 GAA with 32 saves in 752:57 minutes.
Chaka Daley is in his first season at the helm of the Michigan program after spending 12 years as the skipper of the Providence College squad. Daley has guided the team to a 3-2-0 record at U-M stadium this season.
A HISTORY OF THE SERIES
Penn State holds a 9-6-1 advantage in the all-time series with Michigan, while the Wolverines have claimed the last three contests.
The Nittany Lions last claimed victory in 2009, defeating Michigan, 1-0, in overtime in the first round of the Big Ten tournament in Bloomington, Ind.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
Penn State has allowed just six goals this season and trails only Indiana (5) in that category. The Nittany Lions and Hoosiers share the league lead with six shutouts apiece. The Nittany Lions have posted strong offensive numbers through the first 10 games as well, landing in second in assists per game (1.56) and fourth in points per game (4.00). The team leads the conference with 15.10 shots per game.
Senior Julian Cardona (Lincoln, Neb.) has been a force on the attack this season, tallying 11 points on five goals and an assist. Those numbers have the Nebraska native trailing just Eriq Zavaleta of Indiana in points and goals in the conference. Classmate Minh Vu (Tuscon, Ariz.) leads the team and is tied for second in the Big Ten in assists (3), while John Gallagher has added a pair of helpers. Multiple Nittany Lions have contributed to the offensive success as 14 players have recorded a point, including seven with goals.
Defensively, the Nittany Lions have allowed just 25 shots on goal, fewest in the Big Ten. Senior Emmanuel Martin has taken the bulk of the minutes in goal and carries a 0.74 GAA through seven starts. Sophomore Andrew Wolverton has allowed just one goal in more than 300 minutes of play (0.28 GAA), recording nine saves in three starts.
505 MINUTES
The phenomenal scoreless streak by the Penn State defense came to an end in the final minute of the contest against Lehigh Sept. 25 after climbing to 505:56 minutes of on-field time, the longest streak of such in the Big Ten this season. Starting with a goal in the 54th minute of the contest against Georgetown Sept. 2, the Nittany Lions allowed just 12 shots on goal while pitching shutouts in four-consecutive matches, including a 110-minute marathon against West Virginia Sept. 6. The team finished 3-0-1 in that span, outscoring opponents, 5-0, before facing the Mountain Hawks.
Senior Brian Forgue (Glenmoore, Pa.) anchored the defense every minute of the run, while classmate John Gallagher (Pine Bush, N.Y.) was off the field just over a minute. Freshman Shane Campbell (York, Pa.) and junior Martin Seiler (Stuttgart, Germany) helped suffocate opponents' attacks the majority of the duration on the back line alongside Forgue and Gallagher. Three keepers, Emmanuel Martin (Cormontreuil, France), Andrew Wolverton (Snellville, Ga.) and Danny Sheerin (College Park, Md.), spent time in goal for Penn State, combining to stop the 12 shots.
YOUTH MOVEMENT
Head coach Bob Warming has not hesitated to infuse his team with youth this season as seven freshmen have logged minutes on the field. Rookie Shane Campbell has started four games on the back line this season, while classmates Drew Klingenberg (Gibsonia, Pa.) and Kelton Cheney (State College, Pa.) received their first starts against Adelphi Sept. 16 and Lehigh Sept. 25, respectively.
Cheney and redshirt-freshman Kyle MacDonald (Yardley, Pa.) recorded their first collegiate points on the same play in the 3-0 win over Adelphi. MacDonald notched an assist on Cheney's scoring strike in the second half. First-year goalkeeper Danny Sheerin made his first appearance against the Panthers, guarding the net for the final nine minutes of the shutout. Klingenberg opened his collegiate account with an assist on Cheney's gamewinner against Wisconsin Sept. 21.
THE RISE OF AN ARMY
Penn State ranks second in the Big Ten in attendance this season, averaging over 1,600 fans per game at Jeffrey Field. The support has helped the Nittany Lions propel to a 5-1-1 record at home.
The seven Big Ten teams have combined for nearly 50,000 fans at 37 home games this season.
ALL YOU NEED IS ONE
Three of the Nittany Lions' six victories have come in 1-0 fashion this season, including the team's victory against Wisconsin Sept. 21. Penn State also knocked off Albany and Duquesne by a 1-0 margin.
BIG TEN ROUND-UP
Northwestern and Indiana improved to 2-0-0 in the conference with wins on the road over Michigan State and Penn State, respectively. The Wildcats needed two overtime periods to put away the Spartans, 2-1, Sept. 30. Michigan pulled out a 3-2 victory over Ohio State in double overtime while Wisconsin downed Cleveland State, 2-1, in non-conference action.
Northwestern will not play a conference contest this weekend as the team hosts Notre Dame Tuesday evening. Wisconsin and Indiana battle Saturday evening while Michigan State travels to Columbus, Ohio, for a Sunday afternoon tilt with the Buckeyes.
AWARD-WINNING PERFORMANCES
Penn State players have collected multiple individual accolades this season, including a pair of Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week awards.
Owen Griffith (Lewisburg, Pa.), a sophomore defender, was named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week Sept. 10 after helping the Nittany Lions shut out West Virginia in a scoreless draw Sept. 6. Senior defender Brian Forgue picked up the first Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week honors of the season Aug. 27 following a 3-0 victory over Stetson in the campaign-opener. Classmate Julian Cardona garnered a spot on the TopDrawerSoccer.com National Team of the Week the same day after his two-goal performance against the Hatters.
Numerous players have also landed on all-tournament teams after the WVU Nike Classic, co-hosted by West Virginia and Penn State, and the Class of `98 Invitational, co-hosted with Bucknell, in which the Nittany Lions finished a combined 4-0-0.
WVU Nike Classic:
Julian Cardona - Offensive MVP
Jacob Barron
Daniel Burnham
Brian Forgue
Class of `98 Invitational:
Julian Cardona
Brian Forgue
Owen Griffith
TUBE-ULAR COVERAGE
The men's soccer team will have at least two games aired on the Big Ten Network in 2012. The Nittany Lions make their BTN season debut Oct. 6 at Michigan before hosting Michigan State Oct. 14 at 3 p.m., which will air live on the BTN. The Michigan contest air time will be announced at a later date. Additionally, both Big Ten Tournament semifinal contests and the championship game will be aired live on the BTN.
FOLLOW ALONG!
The men's soccer program has its own Twitter account for the first season this year! Be sure to follow @PennStateMSOC, along with all of the Penn State athletics accounts, to get the most up-to-date and behind the scenes information. Join the Nittany Lions fans on Facebook as well, at Facebook.com/PennStateMensSoccer.