Sept. 10, 2016
By Zach Reagan, GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Christian Sload found the back of the net for Penn State's only goal of the match in a 3-1 loss to Saint Francis.
Sload came on as a sub late in the second half for his first collegiate appearance. Minutes later, he registered his first shot, which was a goal from 8 yards out.
"I owe that (goal) to Noah [Pilato]," said Sload. "He found me on a perfect run."
First goals are memorable and special despite the result of the game. "It was a little overwhelming at the time," said Sload. "I was filled with emotion at the time so I wasn't really sure what to feel."
Head coach Bob Warming speaks highly of Sload's athletic ability and improvement in his short time on campus. "Christian is an amazing athlete," said Warming. "He had 37 points in the district final as a basketball player. He has great athletic ability and tremendous upside and he will tell you that he's gotten better every week he's been here."
The Reading, Pa. native finally broke through the Saint Francis defense who played stingy all match. The Red Flash limited the Nittany Lions to eight shots. Penn State had scoring opportunities with numerous headers, but couldn't capitalize.
Saint Francis goals in the 22nd and 38th-minutes put Penn State down 2-0 at halftime. The Nittany Lions showed fight in the second half as the team picked up energy and limited Red Flash offensive pressure. Penn State's entire sideline was standing up and trying to push the team on a dreary, humid night at Jeffrey Field. It just wasn't enough as Saint Francis' Troye Kiernan netted his second goal of the game, a bullet of a shot into the net to make it 3-0.
"All the things you want to see in a good team, they did it tonight," said Warming. "I give a lot of credit to Saint Francis. The left-centerback, there's a reason he's an all-American, he did a great job at organizing the back line the whole time."
"On our side of the ball, when your best players don't complete any passes, some of our best players completed three or four passes in the night, you're not going to have a good night," said Warming.
Penn State will be back in action when they play in the Fourth Annual Mack Brady Game and Big Ten opener Tuesday, Sept. 13 against Ohio State.
For more information on Nittany Lion men's soccer, log onto www.GoPSUsports.com and follow the team on the various social media platforms.