Jan. 10, 2014
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Penn State men's soccer standout goalkeeper Andrew Wolverton (Atlanta, Ga.) picked up three year-end awards to cap off a tremendous 2013 campaign.
Wolverton was tabbed Philly Soccer News' Player of the Year on Friday, the first Nittany Lion to do so since Corey Hertzog in 2010. Additionally, Wolverton garnered CollegeSoccerNews.com's second-team All-America mention as well as a spot on the TopDrawerSoccer.com's Third Team.
Wolverton's national and regional accomplishments compliment his Big Ten Goalkeeper of the Year, All-Big Ten First Team and NSCAA All-Great Lakes First Team honors. The 6-6, 222-pound junior from Atlanta posted eight clean sheets and saved nearly 81 percent of the shots he saw.
Wolverton was a game changer for Penn State and was vital on the biggest stages. He made four saves in a crucial 1-1 tie with then-No. 5 Cal on Sept. 13 before stopping all six shots at defending NCAA champion Indiana in a 2-0 win on Oct. 6. That shutout was the first in Penn State history at Indiana.
He oversaw a stretch of 10 games where Penn State went 9-1-0 and climbed to ninth in the NSCAA polls. His career-high nine-save effort in a 2-1 overtime win over eventual NCAA Quarterfinalist Michigan State on Oct. 20 helped Penn State take control of the Big Ten title race.
He'd make nine more saves in a tough 2-1 loss at Akron as well before posting a shutout streak of 343:37 to start the NCAA Tournament including 1-0 wins over St. Francis Brooklyn and UC Santa Barbara. The victory at UCSB was Penn State's first on the road in the NCAA Tournament since 1998. PSU's run ended in the Sweet 16 with a 2-0 loss at New Mexico, which is currently in the College Cup, as Wolverton kept the Lions in the game with seven saves.
In 21 games played, Wolverton was on the field for all 2,004 minutes and conceded more than a goal just three times the entire season. For his career, Wolverton ranks fourth in the PSU record book with 23 shutouts. Currently, Wolverton has the best goals against average in school history at 0.72.
Penn State completed the season at 13-6-2 and its first appearance in the Sweet 16 since 2010. The Nittany Lions lose just three starters from this year's team directed by two-time Big Ten Coach of the Year Bob Warming.
The Nittany Lions will host their second annual Mack Brady Clinic Sunday, Jan. 12 at 4:30 p.m. in Holuba Hall. The free, youth soccer clinic is open to boys and girls in grades K-8. All participants are advised to bring soccer equipment including a ball.