Sept. 12, 2016
By Zach Reagan, GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Penn State's Big Ten opener against Ohio State is no ordinary game. It's much bigger than a game itself. It's bigger than the players on the field.
Tuesday's game at Jeffrey Field marks the playing of the fourth annual Mack Brady Game. It's a game and night that holds a special place in the hearts of many within the Penn State men's soccer program. It's a day when the team "lives the dreams of Mack and the dreams of a lot of other people. It's a day of appreciation and thankfulness for the opportunity that all of us have to live other people's dreams," according to head coach Bob Warming.
Penn State plays in honor of Mack Brady. Mack and his father Christian Brady, former Dean of the Schreyer Honors College, attended Penn State soccer games frequently. Mack played soccer on a local youth team and dreamed like many young children. At age five, he dreamed of becoming a goalkeeper for Penn State and eventually becoming a goalkeeper for the U.S. national team. Tragically, Mack passed away unexpectedly from a blood infection called sepsis on December 31, 2012, just two days after seeing a doctor.
The day celebrates Mack's life with special events, giveaways, t-shirts, gloves for sale and ultimately the match itself.
"It's not a saddening vibe; if anything it's uplifting," said senior goalkeeper Evan Finney. "Playing for someone that's passed away who aspired to be a goalkeeper here, that means a lot. I've been here for four years now and every Mack Brady Game is something special."
Mack has left his mark on Penn State men's soccer permanently. Shortly after Mack's passing, his father Christian Brady thought it would be a brilliant idea to start the Mack Brady Memorial Men's Soccer Fund at Penn State, a scholarship and endowment fund. It was created in partnership with the Penn State men's soccer program to provide funding for scholarships, equipment and aid, especially for the goalkeeping position Mack fell in love with.
"Dean [Christian] Brady is someone who has been very special in my life the last couple years," said freshman goalkeeper Arie Ammann. "Every time I came out to games he was there and introducing himself. We've had communication back and forth about just regular things which is very touching when I found out about Mack. This game means more than just ourselves now. It's something else. It's for Mack. It's something that's going to drive me and will keep driving the team for a win."
In the previous three Mack Brady Games, the Nittany Lions have won all three. It seems fitting that Penn State has only given up one goal in the matches. Mack would have appreciated quality goalkeeping play from "Goalkeeper U". Every game, the Penn State keepers sport a diamond with four leaf clovers and the number "7" on their sleeve in honor of Mack.
This year's unit of goalkeepers continues a Penn State tradition paved by former Nittany Lion and current LA Galaxy goalkeeper Andrew Wolverton. Through two weeks of this season, preseason All-Big Ten selection Finney and the highly touted freshman Ammann have each earned Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week accolades. The solid play of the backline and midfield has made their jobs a whole lot easier.
"The goalkeeping position is by far the most important position in soccer and it's not even close," said Warming, a former goalkeeper himself. "The fact that we have a great goalkeeper core, it gives everyone in front of them a lot of confidence. We're one of the few teams in Division I who play with three guys in the back. We have so much confidence in our guys in the back and our goalkeeping that we can do that. We play with two forwards, nowadays most teams play with one forward. The point is if the goalkeepers are good, it makes the rest of the team better."
Ammann has filled in for Evan Finney, who has been sitting out due to injury after the season opener. He picked up right where Finney left off.
"This wasn't just another recruit or another guy joining the program," said Warming. "This is a guy who trained in a professional environment and played against pros in Watford (England). There are very few guys who can go to Europe at age 16 and jump into a pro-environment. The goalkeeping core is in great hands for the future with the addition of him."
The goalkeepers take pride in being a part of "Goalkeeper U" and representing Mack Brady. With Mack on their side, the Nittany Lions look to push their record to 4-0 on his night.
If you would like to support the Mack Brady Memorial Men's Soccer Fund, memorial gifts may be made online here or by sending a check, payable to Penn State with "In memory of Mack Brady" in the memo line, to: Penn State University, One Old Main, University Park, PA 16802. You can also visit http://www.mackbrady.com for more information about the fund.
For more information on Nittany Lion men's soccer, log onto www.GoPSUsports.com and follow the team on the various social media platforms.