Oct. 21, 2014
| PENN STATE vs. WEST VIRGINIA | |
| 10-2-1 (4-2-0 B1G) | 6-6-1 (0-1-1 MAC) |
| Wednesday, Oct. 22 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 |
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| Statistics: Penn State | West Virginia |
| INSIDE THE NUMBERS | ||
| PSU | MSU | |
| 10-2-1 | Overall Record | 6-6-1 |
| 4-2-0 | Conference Record | 0-1-1 |
| 21 | Goals Scored | 24 |
| 9 | Goals Allowed | 21 |
| 1.62 | Goals Scored/gm. | 1.85 |
| 0.69 | Goals Allowed/gm. | 1.62 |
| 88-198 | Shots on Goal-Attempts | 82-187 |
| 15.2 | Shots/gm. | 14.4 |
| 24 | Assists | 32 |
| 74 | Corner Kicks | 77 |
| 46 | Saves | 43 |
| 9 | Shutouts | 4 |
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The Penn State men's soccer team hosts a Wednesday night match against West Virginia at 7 p.m. on Jeffrey Field. Admission and parking is free.
ADMISSION & LIMITED BAG POLICY
Fans attending Penn State soccer matches at Jeffrey Field will have to comply with Penn State University's Bag Policy. Fans are advised that no bags larger than backpacks may be brought into the stadium grounds. This includes duffle bags and purses larger than 8.5" x 11" x 6" and all bags will be searched. For more information visit the Safety Policy SY44 Page or Penn State's Bag Policy Page.
NITTANY LIONS HOST WEST VIRGINIA
The Penn State Nittany Lions host West Virginia in a midwee Wednesday night battle at Jeffrey Field. PSU looks to overcome its two-game losing skid, while the Mountaineers will attempt to win their first road game since Sept. 20 and bury a two-game winless stretch.
Last season, the Nittany Lions went to Morgantown for the first time since 1990 and won, 2-1, in comeback fashion. WVU scored in the fifth minute before PSU rallied for goals in the 11th and 71st minutes in the victory. The last time WVU visited Jeffrey Field, the Nittany Lions and Mountaineers played to a scoreless draw.
ABOUT THE MOUNTAINEERS
West Virginia (6-6-1, 0-1-1 MAC) comes into Wednesday's match following a tough 3-2 defeat at Akron. The Mountaineers had a 2-0 lead in the first 25 minutes, but the Zips fought back wtih two goals in the next two minutes to even the score and eventually tally a second-half goal to win. WVU fell to 1-4-1 in road matches this season.
The Mountaineers are a capable offensive team, registering nearly two goals a game this season. Leading the way are Andy Bevin and Jamie Merriam with seven goals apiece, while Ryan Cain and Jad Arslan have four and three goals, respectively. Bevin has dished six assists, while Joey Piatczyc and Louis Thomas each have five helpers.
While the offense is potent, the defense allows 1.62 goals per game. The Akron contest was the fourth this season where WVU gave up three or more goals. West Virginia has four shutouts this season, all of which have come at home. In net, Brent Arnold (4-3-0) and Lee Johnston (2-3-1) have split exactly seven games and 605 minutes of playing time apiece.
SERIES HISTORY vs. WVU
All-Time Series: Penn State leads 20-6-2
PSU Streak: 1 win, 2 unbeaten
First Meeting: 10/9/1965, PSU 9-2
Last Meeting: 9/25/2013, PSU 2-1
Last PSU Win: 9/25/2013, 2-1
Last WVU Win: 9/2/2007, 1-0
Last Draw: 9/6/2012, 0-0 (2OT)
Largest PSU Win: 9-2, 10/9/1965
Largest WVU Win: 3-1, 10/6/1973
MICHIGAN STATE SCORES EARLY, HANGS ON LATE TO DEFEAT PENN STATE
With the wind at their backs, the Michigan State Spartans scored twice in a span of five minutes in the first half to stake a 2-0 lead. Despite out-shooting MSU 9-0 in the second half, Penn State couldn't muster the deficit halving goal in a crucial 2-0 defeat, the first in Big Ten play at home since Sept. 29, 2012 against Indiana.
NITTANY LION SCORING DROUGHT
In losses to Maryland and Michigan State, Penn State was shut out in back-to-back games for the first time since Sept. 25-29, 2012 against Lehigh and Indiana (both 1-0 losses). The Nittany Lions will look to avoid their first three-game scoreless streak since Oct. 9-16, 2011 (at Michigan State, at Akron and vs. Northwestern). Entering Wednesday, PSU has been scoreless in 191 minutes, 29 seconds.
JEFFREY FIELD DOMINANCE
Penn State has enjoyed success at Jeffrey Field with over 300 victories at the famed field. Impressively, the Nittany Lions have never posted a losing season at Jeffrey Field, going 313-78-34 all-time for a winning percentage of .777. Last season, PSU went 8-1-1 and since 2012 the Nittany Lions are 21-4-3 (.820) with a pair of Big Ten titles. Penn State is 7-1-0 this year at home and 15-2-1 the past two seasons.
JEFFREY FIELD FAITHFUL
In the 42-year history of the stadium, Jeffrey Field has welcomed 528,776 fans through its gates, including a season-high 4,052 in a 1-0 win over Temple (Sept. 5). PSU welcomed 5,944 fans on opening weekend in wins over Oakland and St. John's, while nearly 2,000 saw Penn State defeat Ohio State. PSU's 1-0 win over Rutgers had 2,532 fans on hand, which was the fourth-highest total of the season. Against Michigan State, 1,878 fans braved cool, wet conditions to cheer on the Nittany Lions. Penn State is averaging 2,237 fans per game in eight contests with 17,893 fans coming to Jeffrey this year.
STINGY HOME DEFENSE
At Jeffrey Field, the Nittany Lions are known to keep an even tighter lid on their own net than on the road. Senior goalkeeper Andrew Wolverton has allowed just 10 goals in 1,771 minutes of action since the beginning of 2013 (0.51 GAA), collecting 54 saves through those 17 home games (15-2-1). Wolverton and the Nittany Lions conceded their first goal at home in over 614 minutes against Penn. The Quakers were the first opponent to score more than a single goal at Jeffrey Field since Oct. 27, 2012 (Ohio State, 4-4 draw). The shutout streak spanned 333 days.
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 achieved Sept. 28 at Michigan.
Wolverton currently sits first in PSU records in goals-against average (0.76) and shutouts (31). 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 .800 to back up a 35-19-8 career record in net.
This season, Wovlerton has racked up shutout streaks of 321 minutes, 22 seconds and 517 minutes, 42 seconds. The latter streak was to open the season as Wolverton was the final starting goalkeeper in Division I to allow a goal, which occurred on Sept. 24. He is 9-2-0 this season with eight shutouts.
NEXT TIME OUT
Penn State hosts its third straight game by welcoming Wisconsin on Sunday at 2 p.m. Sunday will be PSU's annual THON Game and Senior Day.