Oct. 11, 2014
| #3 PENN STATE at MARYLAND | |
| 10-0-1 (4-0-0 B1G) | 4-5-2 (1-2-1 B1G) |
| Sunday, Oct. 12 at 1 p.m. | |
| Ludwig Field | College Park, Md. | |
| MATCH DAY CENTRAL |
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| INSIDE THE NUMBERS | ||
| PSU | UMD | |
| 10-0-1 | Overall Record | 4-5-2 |
| 4-0-0 | Conference Record | 1-2-1 |
| 21 | Goals Scored | 11 |
| 3 | Goals Allowed | 11 |
| 1.91 | Goals Scored/gm. | 1.00 |
| 0.270 | Goals Allowed/gm. | 1.00 |
| 80-176 | Shots on Goal-Attempts | 52-137 |
| 16.0 | Shots/gm. | 12.5 |
| 24 | Assists | 9 |
| 55 | Corner Kicks | 57 |
| 42 | Saves | 20 |
| 9 | Shutouts | 4 |
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The third-ranked Nittany Lion men's soccer team puts its nation-leading 10-0-1 record on the line Sunday afternoon (1 p.m.) at Maryland's Ludwig Field for a Big Ten clash on BTN.
ABOUT THE TERRAPINS
Preseason Big Ten pick Maryland (4-5-2, 1-2-1 Big Ten) snapped a two-game skid this past Wednesday with a 1-0 win over VCU. The Rams committed a foul in the penalty area, earned a red card and Mael Corboz slotted home the ensuing spot kick. The goal was Corboz's third of the year, which leads the team. All of his goals have come from the spot.
Previously, Maryland dropped hard-fought one-goal matches at Northwestern (3-2, overtime) and at home against Georgetown (1-0). The Terps havve found their scoring touch in recent games, notching goals in four of the last five games, six in all during that span (3-2-0). The Terps started 1-3-2 this season, facing four ranked teams eraly on.
UMD has three two-goal scorers in Michael Sauers, Dan Metzger and Jeroen Meefout. In net, Zack Steffen has played every minute, allowing 11 goals with 19 saves (.633 save percentage) and a 0.96 GAA. Steffen has four shutouts this year.
SERIES HISTORY vs. MARYLAND
All-Time Series: Maryland leads 20-17-5
PSU Streak: 3 losses
First Meeting: 10/23/1948, PSU 1-0
Last Meeting: 11/28/2010, UMD 1-0
Last PSU Win: 9/21/2005, 1-0
Last UMD Win: 11/28/2010, 1-0
Last Draw: 10/18/1974, 1-1
Largest PSU W: 11-0, 10/11/1952
Largest UMD W: 6-0, 11/1/1969; 6-0, 11/2/1968
DEFENDING BIG TEN CHAMPS VS. BIG TEN PRESEASON FAVORITES
Penn State and Maryland square off in a matchup of two-time defending champion and preseason coaches pick. The Nittany Lions were selected fourth in the preseason, while the Terrapins, a preseason No. 2 pick nationally after their NCAA runner-up finish last year, are in a tie for fourth entering the weekend.
Despite not being conference rivals, Penn State and Maryland have a long history that dates back to 1948 with UMD holding a 20-17-5 edge all-time. The two familiar foes faced off in a pair of preseason matches in 2012 and 2013, both of which resulted in ties. Previously, PSU and Maryland met in the 2009 and 2010 NCAA Tournaments, with Maryland coming out the victor. The last regular-season matchup was Sept. 20, 2005, a 1-0 upset win for the Lions over the No. 6 Terps.
LIONS OFF TO BEST 11-GAME START
The 3rd-ranked Nittany Lions have started 10-0-1, going unbeaten in the first 11 games for the first time since 1972 when that team began 9-0-2 before falling to Penn in the NCAA Tournament.
MALONEY'S MARKER MUTES RUTGERS
No. 4 Penn State team left it late against conference debutante Rutgers in a 1-0 win Saturday night (Oct. 4) at Jeffrey Field in front of 2,532 fans. Super sophomore and Big Ten scoring leader Connor Maloney's 79th-minute goal gave the Nittany Lions the victory.
In a game that Penn State (10-0-1, 4-0-0 Big Ten) dominated from the start, where a Maloney rocket 10 seconds in caromed off the post, the Nittany Lions couldn't find the back of the net.
In the 79th minute, Drew Klingenberg forced a turnover in PSU's defensive half. The ball fell to Brian James who and played a long ball over the top of the Rutgers (3-5-1, 1-2-1 Big Ten) defense as Maloney shielded an RU defender 30 yards from net.
Maloney drove into the penalty area and took a touch to his right to get around Rutgers goalkeeper David Greczek (seven saves) and shot into an empty net from 11 yards away. The assist was James's Big Ten leading sixth helper of 2014.
The defense earned its ninth shutout of the year with Andrew Wolverton picking up two saves and his eight clean sheet this season.
WOLVERTON EARNS ANOTHER B1G PLAYER OF THE WEEK HONOR
Penn State men's soccer senior goalkeeper Andrew Wolverton was named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week Monday afternoon (Oct. 6). Wolverton pitched a pair of shutouts in a perfect Penn State week.
Wolverton, the conference's top statistical goalkeeper, added to his stellar season with a pair of shutouts in victories over Bucknell and Rutgers. Wolverton made six saves in a 2-0 win over Bucknell, while making two crucial second-half saves in a narrow 1-0 win over Rutgers for the Nittany Lions who own the nation's top record (10-0-1) and the best conference mark (4-0-0).
The senior goalkeeper currently ranks second nationally in goals-against average (0.21) and save percentage (.946), while posting a perfect 9-0-0 record. Wolverton has eight shutouts this season and owns the all-time school record with 31. The Nittany Lions boast the best defense in the Big Ten and second best in the nation.
B1G REGULAR-SEASON SUCCESS
Penn State completed game four of eight this past Sunday (Oct. 4) in its quest for a third straight Big Ten title. Over the past two seasons, the Nittany Lions are 9-1-0 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 12-2-2 in Big Ten contests (3-1-2 in 2012, 6-1-0 in 2013, 4-0-0 in 2014). Penn State's next Big Ten opponent is a new one: Maryland (Sunday, Oct. 12 at Ludwig Field).
NEWFOUND ROAD WARRIORS
The Nittany Lions, known for being especially tough in the friendly confines of Jeffrey Field, haven't always been stellar on the road. Nevertheless, the past two seasons have seen a role reversal where Penn State has become a formidable road squad.
This season, the Nittany Lions are 3-0-1 after a 5-5-1 season a year ago. While PSU went .500 last season and in 2012 (2-2-1), the Nittany Lions have begun to chip off victories in some of the most storied stadiums in college soccer.
The past two seasons have seen Penn State win at Indiana's Armstrong Stadium as well as UC Santa Barbara's Harder Stadium in the NCAA Tournament last season. This year, the Lions slayed the demons at U-M Soccer Stadium to claim their first win over Michigan there in 12 years.
Sunday provides another test as Ludwig Field stands as one of the toughest places to play for opponents. The Lions last won at Ludwig on Oct. 14, 2004, a 4-1 victory over the No. 21 Terps.
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 a spot to No. 3, the highest ranking since Sept. 12, 2000 when PSU was second. The Lions received at least one first-place vote for the second straight week.
In other polls, the Lions are 2nd (College Soccer News, Soccer America), 4th (Top Drawer Soccer) and 8th (Bennett Rank). PSU checked in at No. 8 in the second NCAA RPI standings, a seven-spot rise.
AMONG THE NATION'S BEST
Penn State has been near the top of the national charts in multiple statistical categories this season.
Team Ranks
Win Percentage: 1st (.955)
Shutout Pct.: T-1st (0.82)
Team GAA: 2nd (0.27)
Save Pct.: 2nd (.933)
Total Assists: 8th (24)
Total Points: 13th (66)
Total Goals: 15th (21)
Connor Maloney Ranks
Game-Winning Goals: T-1st (5)
Total Goals: 7th (8)
Total Points: 11th (18)
Andrew Wolverton Ranks
GAA: 2nd (0.21)
Save Pct.: 2nd (.946)
Brian James Ranks
Total Assists: 8th (6)
Mikey Minutillo Ranks
Total Points: 32nd (14)
M&M BOYS LEAD BIG TEN SCORING
Connor Maloney and Mikey Minutillo are stop the Big Ten charts in goals and points. Maloney has eight goals and 18 points, while Minutillo is in second with five goals and 14 points. As for assists, Brian James leads the conference there with six helpers, while Minutillo is second with four. Drew Klingenberg and Mark Wadid are tied for fourth in the conference with three assists each.
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, one of which was achieve at Michigan.
Wolverton currently sits first in PSU records in goals-against average (0.69) and shutouts (230). Already the single-season record holder in shutouts (12 in 2012), Wolverton eclipsed the career record in front of his family on Sunday, Sept. 28 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 .817 to back up a 35-17-8 career record in net.
Currently, Wolverton is riding a 309-minute, 15 second shutout streak, his second longest of the year. Wolverton was the last goalkeeper in Division I to allow a goal, going 517 minutes, 42 seconds before conceding a goal vs. Penn on Sept. 24. Despite allowing two vs. Penn, he stopped eight shots. This season, Wolverton is 9-0-0 with seven eight shutouts.
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 438 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. He is 55-28-11 at PSU.
NEXT TIME OUT
Penn State has another extended break after the Maryland game to gear up for Michigan State. The Nittany Lions and Spartans faceoff Saturday, Oct. 18 at Jeffrey Field for a 7 p.m. contest.