Sept. 12, 2013
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The Penn State men's soccer team will host No. 5 California Friday night at 7:00 p.m. on Jeffrey Field as it celebrates the "Mack Brady Game." The Nittany Lions have not allowed a goal at home in over 200 minutes, while Cal is undefeated on the season.
Friday's game celebrates the life and legacy of Mack Brady, an avid soccer fan in the State College area who passed away on December 31, 2012 due to an unexpected blood infection at the age of eight. Mack's parents, Christian and Elizabeth Brady, created the "Mack Brady Memorial Men's Soccer Fund at Penn State" to provide an endowment to PSU goalkeepers for recruitment, equipment, scholarships and other needs. The fund has raised more than $140,000 to date.
Penn State (2-2-0) is looking to get back on track after dropping a pair of road games last weekend at Rutgers and St. John's. The Nittany Lions last defeated a nationally ranked top-five team on September 29, 2007, as it upset No. 3 Northwestern, 2-1, at Jeffrey Field.
Goalkeeper Andrew Wolverton(Atlanta, Ga.) and the Penn State defense have been strong at Jeffrey Field this season, allowing only 13 shots and zero goals. In fact, the Blue & White have not allowed a goal at home in 202:30 dating back to October 28, 2012 against Ohio State.
California (3-0-0) comes to Happy Valley as one of the hottest teams in the nation after defeating No. 3 Georgetown and No. 2 Maryland to open their 2013 slate. The Golden Bears then stayed undefeated with a dramatic 1-0 victory Sept. 5 as Christian Thierjung scored the game-winner with 19 seconds remaining.
Steve Birnbaum leads Cal with five points and two goals, while Seth Casiple has notched a pair of assists. Justin Taillole is undefeated in his first three starts in goal, posting a 0.65 goals-against average for the Bears.