Oct. 6, 2017
| PENN STATE vs. No. 1 INDIANA | | | | 2-6-2 (0-4-0 B1G) | 9-0-2 (2-0-2 B1G) |
| Saturday, Oct. 7 | 7 p.m. | | Jeffrey Field | University Park, Pa. | | Promotions |
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Oct. 6, 2017
NITTANY LIONS READY FOR No. 1 HOOSIERS
The Penn State men's soccer team welcomes its third ranked opponent into Jeffrey Field in the 2017 season when No. 1 Indiana comes Saturday, Oct. 7. The two teams will take the pitch at 7 p.m. The match will mark the last home game before the Nittany Lions go on a four-match road swing.
CATCHING THE GAME FROM HOME
Fans who are unable to make the trip to Happy Valley on Saturday night can catch all the action live on BTN Plus with a paid subscription or follow along with live stats at GoPSUsports.com.
SERIES HISTORY WITH No. 1 INDIANA
Despite Indiana carrying the advantage in the all-time series with Penn State, the Nittany Lions have been closing the gap in the past few seasons.
The Blue and White fell last season to the Hoosiers but notched a 1-0 victory over then-No. 10 Indiana on Mack Brady Day in 2015. Prior to that, Penn State traveled to Bloomington, Indiana in both 2013 and 2014 and brought wins back to Happy Valley, including handing the Hoosiers their first Big Ten opening day loss in the history of the program in the 2014 campaign.
KEEPING INDIANA OFFENSE AT BAY
In the past six seasons, Penn State has seen a lot of success with the Hoosiers, coming away with five wins and two losses and giving up just one goal in 540 minutes of regulation play, dating back to 2011. Prior to the 2016 meeting, the Nittany Lions had not given up a goal in regulation in 450 minutes but were unable to extend the streak as Indiana scored in the first half of play.
SCOUTING THE HOOSIERS
Indiana heads to Happy Valley as the No. 1 team in the nation for the second-straight week with a 9-0-2 overall record and a 2-0-2 Big Ten Conference record. The Hoosiers recorded double overtime ties in back-to-back contests with then-No. 2 Maryland and then No. 18-Michigan.
The Hoosiers lead the Big Ten Conference in all offensive categories, while keeper Trey Muse leads the league in shutouts (9), save percentage (.926) and goals against average (0.17). Offensively, Mason Toye has 13 points with six goals and one assist and Andrew Gutman has 11 points with five goals and one assist. Help on goals has come from 13 different student-athletes with seven having two-or-more assists on the season. Finally, nine players have two-or-more goals for the Hoosiers.
LEVINE RECORDS FIRST CAREER START
After making his first appearance between the pipes against Temple, redshirt-freshman Josh Levine earned his first start against No. 20 Michigan in the Big Ten Conference match. Levine made a career-high nine saves in the double-overtime match and gave up just two goals.
BECKFORD NETS GOAL FOR NITTANY LIONS
Freshman Ethan Beckford was poised to be a goal scorer for the Nittany Lions in the 2017 season and found the breakthrough he had been looking for against No. 20 Michigan. The freshman forward connected on a header in the first half of the match to net his first collegiate goal and put the Blue and White up 1-0 over the rank Big Ten Conference opponent.
JEFFREY FIELD DOMINANCE
Penn State has enjoyed success at Jeffrey Field with over 300 victories at the famed field. Impressively, the Nittany Lions have never posted a losing season at Jeffrey Field in 44 years, going 330-88-36 all-time for a winning percentage of .771. Last season, PSU went 8-2-1 at Jeffrey Field and over the past five seasons the Nittany Lions are 38-11-5 en route to a pair of Big Ten titles in 2012 and 2013. In the 44-year history of the stadium, Jeffrey Field has welcomed over 540,000 fans through its gates.
BIG TEN TOURNAMENT TO BE HELD AT GRAND PARK
The Big Ten Men's Soccer Tournament will take place at Grand Park in Westfield, Indiana, as announced by the Big Ten. The men's semifinals and championship game are set for Nov. 10 and 12. Last year, the Big Ten Men's Soccer Tournament semifinals and championship game were played at the facility for the first time, with Maryland earning a 2-1 victory over Wisconsin in the final.
NEXT TIME OUT
Penn State hits the road for a four-game road stretch starting Tuesday, Oct. 10 when it heads to Pittsburgh for a mid-week non-conference match at 7 p.m.
