Aug 16, 2013
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The Penn State men's soccer team will open its 2013 preseason slate Saturday night at 7:00 pm CT as it travels to Omaha, Neb. to take on the University of Nebraska-Omaha in the "South Omaha Classic."
Set to be played at Omaha South High School's Collin Stadium, fourth year head coach Bob Warming and the Nittany Lions will get their first test since opening preseason camp Wednesday.
Despite graduating 10 players from its Big Ten championship side last season, Penn State has added a talented class of newcomers to a strong nucleus of 16 returning players. Among the returners are junior co-captains Owen Griffith (Lewisburg, Pa.) and Andrew Wolverton (Snellville, Ga.). Griffith has started 21 consecutive games for the Nittany Lions, while Wolverton has posted 15 shutouts in 30 starts during his career.
The match will be a homecoming of sorts for senior Grant Warming (Omaha, Neb.), who returns to Omaha for the first time as a player since leading Westside High School to the men's soccer state finals in 2008 and 2009. The stalwart midfielder led the state of Nebraska in assists as a senior with 26 helpers, and returns to Penn State for his final season as the team's current leader in appearances (52).
Guided by head coach Jason Mims, who was an assistant coach under Bob Warming at Creighton University, UNO is led by 2012 Summit League All-Newcomer Team selection Chava Garcia. The Mavericks return 10 players who started in at least 50 percent of their games last season, in addition to 11 newcomers.
This is the inaugural meeting between Penn State and UNO. The Mavericks' men's soccer program began in the fall of 2011 under Mims.
-- Nittany Lions to assist "Kicking with the Jays" clinic with Creighton, United Health --
Prior to Saturday night's game against the University of Nebraska-Omaha, Penn State will team up with the Creighton University men's soccer team and United Health to host a free clinic for underprivileged youth at Morrison Stadium.
The event is held in conjunction with "Audrey's Shoes for Kids," an organization founded in memory of Bob Warming's late daughter, Audrey Warming. The body provides soccer gear, including shoes, shirts, shorts, shin guards and socks, for less fortunate youth in the Omaha area.
At last year's clinic, over 150 pairs of soccer shoes and shin guards were given out to kids ages 8 to 18, many of who come from refugee families from Sudan and Ethiopia.
The Penn State men's soccer team will be wearing "ASK" (Audrey's Shoes for Kids) on its socks against UNO to honor the organization and the memory of Audrey.
For more information check out "Audrey's Shoes for Kids" facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/AudreysShoesForKids.