Nov. 8, 2012
EVANSTON, Ill. - The Penn State men's soccer team collected multiple Big Ten awards after a season full of outstanding individual efforts that led the team to a regular-season conference title, the Big Ten office announced Thursday night.
Head coach Bob Warming was honored as Coach of the Year while seven players found spots on all-conference teams, the most for Penn State since 2005. Jacob Barron and John Gallagher were named First Team All-Big Ten team and Julian Cardona, Hasani Sinclair, Owen Griffith and Andrew Wolverton landed on the Second Team All-Big Ten list. Rookie Drew Klingenberg was named to the All-Freshman Team, as well. Daniel Burnham picked up the team's Sportsmanship Award.
A year after being left off the all-conference lists, Penn State led the Big Ten in First and Second Team All-Big Ten nominees.
Warming earned his first Big Ten Coach of the Year honors after guiding the Nittany Lions to their first regular-season conference title since 2005 with a 3-1-2 record in Big Ten play.
First team selections Barron (La Mirada, Calif.) and Gallagher (Pine Bush, N.Y.) have been vital contributors to the team this season as both of the captains are near the top of the list in minutes played. Barron has excelled as a defensive midfielder while Gallagher has adjusted well to a move to left back. Gallagher has also been important to Nittany Lion set pieces, handling free kick and corner duties.
Cardona (Lincoln, Neb.) is third in the conference in goals with six and leads the team with 14 points. Sinclair (Coral Gables, Fla.) has been a clutch performer for the Nittany Lions in Big Ten play, assisting on the gamewinner against Wisconsin before his goal against Northwestern in double overtime gave Penn State the win.
Griffith (Lewisburg, Pa.) has played over 1,300 minutes alongside Barron in the midfield. The sophomore has a goal and two assists to his credit this autumn. Wolverton (Snellville, Ga.) leads the Big Ten in goals-against-average with a 0.49 GAA in nine games, giving up just four goals in 731 minutes between the pipes.
Klingenberg (Gibsonia, Pa.) has seen action in 15 games in his first collegiate campaign, including three starts. A frequent contributor on the wing, Klingenberg tallied a pair of assists during the regular season. Burnham (Boise, Idaho) is second on the team in goals (4) and points (10) this season while shifting from multiple positions across the field.