Sept. 27, 2014
| #7 PENN STATE at MICHIGAN | |
| Tuesday, Sept. 16 at 7 p.m. | |
| Jeffrey Field | University Park, Pa. | |
| MATCH DAY CENTRAL |
| Live Video on BTN Plus ($) -->TV: BIG TEN NETWORK | |
| Men's Soccer Blog | 2014 Yearbook |
| Follow Us: @PennStateMSOC | Facebook | Instagram |
| Statistics: Penn State | Michigan |
| Promotions: National Champions Night == 1954 & 1955 Teams --> |
| INSIDE THE NUMBERS | ||
| PSU | MICH | |
| 7-0-1 | Overall Record | 1-3-2 |
| 2-0-0 | Conference Record | 0-0-2 |
| 17 | Goals Scored | 4 |
| 3 | Goals Allowed | 6 |
| 2.12 | Goals Scored/gm. | 0.67 |
| 0.38 | Goals Allowed/gm. | 1.00 |
| 57-121 | Shots on Goal-Attempts | 24-78 |
| 15.1 | Shots/gm. | 13.0 |
| 19 | Assists | 5 |
| 35 | Corner Kicks | 36 |
| 30 | Saves | 17 |
| 6 | Shutouts | 2 |
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The seventh-ranked Nittany Lion men's soccer team travels to Michigan for a Sunday match that's nationally televised by the Big Ten Network. Kick-off is slated for 1 p.m. as Penn State attempts to go 3-0-0 in the Big Ten.
ABOUT THE WOLVERINES
Michigan enters Sunday's game off a 0-0 draw at Northwestern last Sunday, which ran the team's winless streak to four games. The Wolverines (1-3-2, 0-0-2 Big Ten) have scored four goals in six games, while allowing six.
Against Northwestern, Adam Grinwis (0-1-2) earned the shutout without having to make a save. Michigan had five shots on goal and played just two subs in the contest. Grinwis has three games this year with a 0.58 GAA and .778 save percentage, while Evan Louro (1-2-0) has three appearances with a 1.33 GAA and .714 save percentage.
Colin McAtee has a team-high two goals and four points for the Wolverines. James Murphy and Marcus Ugarte have the remaining two tallies for U-M. Michigan has out-shot its opponents 78-66 this season.
SERIES HISTORY vs. MICHIGAN
All-Time Series: PSU leads 10-6-2
PSU Streak: 1 draw
First Meeting: 9/23/00, PSU 2-1 (OT)
Last Meeting: 10/11/13, PSU 3-1
Last PSU Win: 10/11/13, 3-1
Last U-M Win: 10/1/11, 2-1
Last Draw: 10/6/12, T 1-1 (2OT)
Largest PSU Win: 4-0, 9/9/01
Largest U-M Win: 4-1, 11/14/10
TRYING TO MAKE IT TWO STRAIGHT vs. U-M
The Nittany Lions are looking for their second straight win in the series over Michigan after last season's 3-1 win on Homecoming weekend. Michigan had run off a four-match unbeaten streak previously.
PENN STATE POUNCES ON PENN
The seventh-ranked Nittany Lions went for an offensive approach to Wednesday night's game at Jeffrey Field, pouncing on the Penn Quakers, 6-2, in the program's 800th victory.
Five Nittany Lions scored the six goals, which were the most by PSU since a 6-3 win over visiting Villanova on Sept. 10, 1999. The goal fest featured a 122-second span early in the second half where two Penn State goals sandwiched Penn's second marker. The Quakers are the first opponent to score on the men's team at Jeffrey Field in 333 days.
Sophomore forward Connor Maloney tallied the middle two goals for Penn State (7-0-1, 2-0-0 Big Ten), including the eventual game-winner, to up his Big Ten-leading total to six goals. Last season the Nittany Lions didn't have a goal scorer over five tallies. Maloney posted a career-high five points on Wednesday.
Mikey Minutillo, Grant Riley, Drew Klingenberg and Brandon Savino each scored while Brian James added two assists. Andrew Wolverton saved eight shots.
WOLVIE WATCH 2014
The Nittany Lions feature one of the top goalkeepers in the nation with senior Andrew Wolverton patrolling the goal area. The 2013 Big Ten Goalkeeper of the Year and NSCAA All-Great Lakes First Team honoree has returned with a pair of career Penn State records in his sights.
Wolverton currently sits first in PSU records in goals-against average (0.72) and second in shutouts (28). Already the single-season record holder in shutouts (12 in 2012), Wolverton can eclipse the career record on Sunday with a clean sheet against Michigan.
As for GAA, Wolverton looks to break Whit Gibson's mark of 0.78 set during his two seasons in Happy Valley (1998-99). Wolverton's save percentage is also impressive at .808 to back up a 32-17-8 career record in net.
This season, Wolverton is 6-0-0 with five shutouts and was the only goalkeeper in NCAA Division I men's soccer to not concede a goal until Wednesday's match. Nevertheless, Wolverton saved eight of 10 shots on frame.
AMONG THE NATION'S BEST
Penn State's defense has been suffocating this season, allowing just three goals in seven matches spanning 740 minutes. Penn State leads the nation in win percentage (.938). Also, the Nittany Lions rank fourth nationally in shutout percentage (75 percent), fifth in team GAA (0.36), sixth in save percentage (.909), eighth in assists (19), 10th in goals (17) and points (53).
Sophomore forward Connor Maloney leads the conference in game-winning goals (3), which ranks him fifth nationally, sixth in total goals (6) and seventh in points (14). Brian James is fourth in assists (5), while Andrew Wolverton is fifth in GAA (0.30) and sixth in save percentage (.920).
UNDEFEATED IN FIRST EIGHT SINCE `04
The 7th-ranked Nittany Lions have started 7-0-1, going unbeaten in the first seven games for the first time since 2004 (5-0-4). Prior to that, the 1999 team went 8-0-0, the best start during the Big Ten era. If Penn State beats Michigan, the 8-0-1 start would be the best start during PSU's time in the conference.
COACHING CLOUT
Among the elite coaches in the sport for the last three decades, head coach Bob Warming is back for his fifth season at Penn State. Warming has an incredible coaching pedigree, including 434 career Division I victories -- third all-time among active DI coaches and ninth all-time at D-I. He was named Big Ten Coach of the Year in 2012 and 2013 after leading PSU to a pair of league titles.
At Penn State, Warming picked up win No. 50 as the Lions won 3-0 over Saint Francis on Tuesday, Sept. 16. Warming looks to lead his Nittany Lions to their 53rd win under his watch.
B1G REGULAR-SEASON SUCCESS
Penn State will be on game three of eight this Sunday in its quest for a third straight Big Ten title. Over the past two seasons, the Nittany Lions are 7-1-0 in regular-season games, which determine the Big Ten Championship.
Since Penn State's 0-6-0 regular season in 2011, the Nittany Lions are 10-2-2 in Big Ten contests (3-1-2 in 2012, 5-1-0 in 2013, 2-0-0 in 2014). Penn State is 2-0-0 vs. Michigan during that span.
BIG TEN NETWORK SCHEDULE
Penn State is scheduled to be featured on the Big Ten Network at least three times this season. PSU's first nationally-televised game is Sept. 28 at Michigan before traveling to preseason Big Ten top-pick Maryland on Oct. 12 for another BTN telecast. On Oct. 26, Penn State will play Wisconsin on Big Ten Network at Jeffrey Field for Senior Day. Should PSU advance in the Big Ten Tournament, the Lions will appear on BTN for the semifinals and final. Last season, PSU was on the network three times.
IN THE RANKINGS
Penn State re-emerged in the NSCAA Top 10 on Tuesday, Sept. 16 in the No. 10 spot. This week Penn State moved up three spots to No. 7.
NEXT TIME OUT
Penn State returns to Pennsylvania to take on local rival Bucknell on Wednesday, Oct. 1 in Lewisburg. The match will be aired live online through NSCAATV.com for free.