Sept. 6, 2016
By Zach Reagan, GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Junior transfer and U-20 Canadian national team player Aymar Sigue netted the game-winning goal in overtime to help Penn State defeat Oakland 2-1 at Jeffrey Field.
Sigue has been a busy man as he just returned to Happy Valley from a trip to Costa Rica where he participated in his country's training camp. Before Monday, the transfer from Tulsa only played for the blue and white in the season's opener at Stanford.
"He comes in and gets the game-winner," said Warming. "He's a difference maker for our team. He helped us a ton against Stanford and he's going to help us a ton in the future."
Sigue told head coach Bob Warming that he felt good to play after sleeping ten hours on his flight back to Happy Valley. Warming wasn't going to play him, but chose to sub him in during the 85th-minute which turned out to be a brilliant move for the Nittany Lions.
Penn State needed a pick-me-up after a late goal tied the game. Before overtime started, Warming emphasized the importance of protecting the home turf of Jeffrey Field to the team. He switched the lineup to a more offensive strategy.
"We took Mitch [Gringolf] off," said Warming. "We put Riley [Grant] back with Mason [Klerks] and I told him play make from deep but let's put Connor [Maloney], Dayonn [Harris] and Aymar, all three of them up there together, tight. I said let's get in crosses. Just get near Aymar. The ball with drop down because they can't stay with him. That's what happened. We got a cross and battled with them, Dayonn, Connor and Aymar right there and Aymar tucks it away."
The wily coach's plan worked to perfection. In the 92nd-minute, Sigue saved the day for the Nittany Lions. The St. Alberta, Alberta, Canada native fired a shot just inches from Oakland's goalkeeper, who was unable to grab the ball. The ball deflected off of the goalkeeper's hands allowing Sigue to blast a shot into the bottom corner from 6 yards out.
"There are no words that can truly describe how I was feeling," said Sigue. "I was just happy that coach gave me a chance to come on for the last five minutes because I haven't been here. I've been in Costa Rica with the [Canadian] national team. The fact that he trusted me enough to put me in is unreal."
Penn State's sideline exploded with happiness as they ran onto the pitch to celebrate with the hero of the match. The 6-foot-3-inch forward proceeded to get mobbed by the entire Penn State team.
"They all tackled me," said Sigue. "I couldn't even breathe but it was the best feeling in the world. My first goal here at home. It's unbelievable."
The Nittany Lions' second victory didn't come easily against a tough Oakland squad. It was a physical match with five cards being handed out throughout the game, four of which were Oakland yellow cards.
"We were exhausted, when we got in the locker room, it was about as quiet as I ever seen," said Warming. The guys have put forth a lot of energy."
Penn State scored the first goal of the match when Connor Maloney scored his third goal of the season with a free kick just outside the 18-yard box in the 16th-minute of the match. Maloney found the bottom right corner of the net.
As the minutes ticked down, Penn State started to show signs of fatigue from a physically and mentally taxing schedule the past couple weeks. Late in the second-half Oakland increased pressure in Penn State's defensive end, but Penn State still held the Golden Grizzlies scoreless until Oakland's Alex Serwatka made a blind pass to the center of the box where Chase Jabbori blasted a goal into the bottom right corner from six yards out of the net to tie the score at 1-1 in the 85th-minute.
"First of all, I'm really proud of my guys," said Warming. This team [Oakland] beat Akron in the preseason. They looked pretty good and now I see how technical they are and how they could have beat Akron. I'm really proud of the guys for coming in and having the mentality at home that they're going to win the game in overtime."
The Nittany Lions are back in action when they take on neighbors Saint Francis Friday, Sept. 9 at 8 p.m. The Penn State men have the night cap as the Penn State women kick off the doubleheader at 5:30 p.m. against San Diego State at Jeffrey Field.
For more information on Nittany Lion men's soccer, log onto www.GoPSUsports.com and follow the team on the various social media platforms.