Nov. 4, 2014
| #23 PENN STATE vs. AKRON | |
| 11-4-1 (5-3-0 B1G) | 10-5-1 (3-1-0 MAC) |
| Wednesday, Nov. 5 at 7 p.m. | |
| Jeffrey Field | University Park, Pa. | |
| MATCH DAY CENTRAL |
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| INSIDE THE NUMBERS | ||
| PSU | AKRON | |
| 11-4-1 | Overall Record | 10-5-1 |
| 5-3-0 | Conference Record | 3-1-0 |
| 25 | Goals Scored | 28 |
| 14 | Goals Allowed | 13 |
| 1.56 | Goals Scored/gm. | 1.75 |
| 0.88 | Goals Allowed/gm. | 0.82 |
| 106-242 | Shots on Goal-Attempts | 94-209 |
| 15.1 | Shots/gm. | 13.1 |
| 26 | Assists | 19 |
| 97 | Corner Kicks | 85 |
| 55 | Saves | 63 |
| 9 | Shutouts | 6 |
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - For the second straight season, Penn State will conclude its regular season against Akron, when the two teams meet Wednesday at Jeffrey Field for a 7 p.m. match. The Nittany Lions are the lone Big Ten team to face a non-conference rival as the other eight Big Ten squads play their finals games of the conference season.
ADMISSION & 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 backpacks or briefcases maybe brought into the stadium and all bags must be searched. For more information visit the Safety Policy SY44 Page or Penn State's Bag Policy Page.
SCOUTING THE ZIPS
Akron (10-5-1, 3-1-0 MAC) travels to Jeffrey Field in search of its third straight victory since dropping a 1-0 match at home to Western Michigan. Akron defeated Northern Illinois on Saturday, 2-1, in Dekalb, Ill. The team's leading scorer, Adam Najem, scored his 10th of the year in the 83rd minute, less than five minutes after NIU's equalizer, to beat the Huskies. The win moved Akron to 3-4-1 away from Cub Cadet Field.
The Zips have out-scored their competition, 28-13, while out-shooting teams on average, 13.6-11.0. Najem leads the team in scoring followed by Stuart Holthusen (4), Sean Sepe (3), Saad Abdul-Salaam and Sam Gainford (2). Abdul-Salaam has provided five assists, while Holthusen and Gainford have chipped in with three helpers apiece.
In net, Jake Fenlason has played every second with a 0.79 GAA and .827 save percentage. He has six shutouts this year, four of which have come since Oct. 4.
SERIES HISTORY vs. AKRON
All-Time Series: Akron leads 16-13-5
PSU Streak: 5 losses; 9 winless
First Meeting: 11/10/1978, PSU 4-0
Last Meeting: 11/6/2013, UA 2-1 (2OT)
Last PSU Win: 9/19/2004, 4-0
Last UA Win: 10/10/2012, 2-0
Last Draw: 10/29/2008, 1-1 (2OT)
Largest PSU Win: 4-0, twice, 5-1 once
Largest UA Win: 3-0, 10/28/2009
`CATS DENY THIRD STRAIGHT B1G TITLE
Only 100 seconds away from its third straight Big Ten title, Penn State conceded a goal in double overtime to fall at Northwestern, 2-1, on Sunday, Nov. 2, when it needed just a single point. Mike Roberge took a flicked-on header from Elo Ozumba, split the PSU defense and scored his third of the year.
Mikey Minutillo registered his sixth goal of the year in the 38th minute as his penalty kick and subsequent rebound were saved by Tyler Miller, who couldn't stop the third Minutillo effort. Eric Weberman scored in the 15th minute to put NU ahead early.
BIG TEN SCOREBOARD WATCHING
While PSU takes on Akron, the story Wednesday night will be the enthralling Big Ten title race and seeding battle for the 2014 Big Ten Tournament. Eight of the Big Ten teams are in action, staggered throughout the night to determine seeds 1-7.
Currently, Penn State sits in first with 15 points, assured of hosting a Big Ten quarterfinal match on Sunday at 1 p.m. While PSU's Big Ten regular season is done, it can finish anywhere from first to fourth depending on the results around the league. Maryland needs a win at Rutgers to take top honors, while a draw or Rutgers win will give PSU its third straight Big Ten title.
While PSU could be crowned the league champion, it won't be assured of the top seed because Ohio State and Northwestern, both sitting on 12 points, can catch Penn State with victories. Here's how the race shakes out...
PSU is the No. 1 seed if...
Rutgers draws or beats Maryland AND Northwestern fails to win (Champion)
Rutgers draws or beats Maryland AND Northwestern fails to win AND Ohio State wins (head-to-head tiebreaker: PSU beat OSU) (Co-Champion with Ohio State)
PSU is the No. 2 seed if...
Rutgers draws or beats Maryland AND Northwestern wins (head-to-head tiebreaker: NU beat PSU) (Co-Champion with Northwestern)
Maryland beats Rutgers AND Ohio State and Northwestern fail to win
Maryland beats Rutgers AND Ohio State wins (head-to-head tiebreaker: PSU beat OSU)
PSU is the No. 3 seed if...
Rutgers draws or beats Maryland AND Northwestern wins AND Ohio State wins (head-to-head tiebreaker: all teams went 1-1-0 against each other; goal differential tiebreaker: NU and OSU each +2 entering Wednesday; PSU -2) (Co-Champion with Ohio State, Northwestern)
Maryland beats Rutgers AND Northwestern wins and Ohio State fails to win (head-to-head tiebreaker: NU beat PSU)
PSU is the No. 4 seed if...
Maryland beats Rutgers AND Northwestern wins AND Ohio State wins (head-to-head tiebreaker: all teams went 1-1-0 against each other; goal differential tiebreaker: NU and OSU each +2 entering Wednesday; PSU -2)
REMAINING BIG TEN SCHEDULE
Michigan State at Indiana, 6 p.m.
Maryland at Rutgers, 7 p.m.
Ohio State at Michigan, 7:30 p.m.
Northwestern at Wisconsin, 8 p.m.
NEXT TIME OUT
Penn State will host a Big Ten Tournament quarterfinal match Sunday at 1 p.m. Admission and parking to the match are free.