21Jeffrey Field | University Park, Pa. | 1,638
MATCH LINKS
FINAL STATISTICS
Oct. 26, 2014
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -
Redshirt-junior defender Michael Gonzalez (Berwyn, Pa.) found a great time for his first career goal, blasting a 30-yard laser in the 105th minute to lift No. 12 Penn State men's soccer over Wisconsin, 2-1, in front of 1,638 fans at sun-soaked Jeffrey Field.
"I'm so happy for Michael," said head coach Bob Warming of Gonzalez on the Big Ten Network broadcast. "I'm so happy for the team. Michael was having a good summer and had a terrible leg injury and has worked very hard to get back in his fitness. Now he had a chance to come in and play for us and that was an incredible strike."
For the second straight year, the story lines were abundant on Senior Day for the Nittany Lions (11-3-1, 5-2-0 Big Ten). The game was televised live on Big Ten Network as PSU celebrated with THON family members and delighted everyone in attendance with a dramatic overtime game-winning goal.
PSU took it to Wisconsin (3-10-2, 0-6-0 Big Ten) for the majority of the game, out-shooting the Badgers 12-5, in regulation and 16-8 for the game. In the second overtime, with the wind at their backs for the first time since the opening half, Penn State pinned UW deep and kept knocking on the door.
Brian James (Sunrise, Fla.) took a throw in on the left wing and swung the ball over to Gonzalez, who made the start at right back. Gonzalez filled the open void left between the Penn State defensive line and UW's midfield, took two touches and crushed a shot from 30 yards out that took a slight deflection and streaked by Wisconsin's Casey Beyers (four saves).
Gonzalez started because Owen Griffith (Lewisburg, Pa) was out with an injury. The assist was James's Big Ten-leading seventh helper of the year.
The goal touched off a celebration as Penn State snapped a three-game losing streak and moved within a win of clinching at least a share of its third straight Big Ten title. The Nittany Lions sit atop the standings with 15 points going into Sunday's match at Northwestern (Nov. 2, 2 p.m.). If PSU wins, only Ohio State (4-2-0, 12 points) can equal. In that scenario, Penn State would earn the No. 1 seed in the Big Ten Tournament.
The first half was mostly Penn State applying pressure, eventually cashing in exactly 17 minutes into the match. Super sophomore Connor Maloney (Harrisburg, Pa.) was the catalyst for the Lion offense, cutting through traffic in the penalty area and chipping a pass to Drew Klingenberg (Gibsonia, Pa.) as he one-timed the half volley into the top right corner of the net from 16 yards out.
The goal was Klingenberg's second of the season while Maloney picked up his third assist of the year. Maloney leads the Big Ten in points with 21.
A 1-0 score line would fit Lions just fine going into the locker room, but Joe Naughton of Wisconsin sent a shot off Gonzalez's left into the lower right of the net for his first of the year in the 41st minute to even the score.
NEXT MATCH
Penn State will rest up and travel to No. 25 Northwestern for its final Big Ten regular season match on Sunday, Nov. 2. Game time is 2 p.m. ET at Lakeside Field.