UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Redshirt senior Ryan Gallagher and sophomore Ethan Beckford connected for the Penn State men's soccer team in the 80th minute to lift the Nittany Lions over Bowling Green, 1-0, Tuesday evening at Jeffrey Field. The win marks the first win for first-year head coach Jeff Cook and his new coaching staff.
"What I really would like to do first is congratulate our players for their win and their application in a very challenging game against Bowling Green," said Cook. "I thought our opponents played really well and presented us with a much different challenge, but still a very hard challenge, and the way that our team hung in there and competed really well was impressive. Then when the moment was right Ryan Gallagher and Ethan Beckford stepped up to make a really big play and we saw the game out. So I couldn't be prouder of the guys and absolutely delighted to have our first win here at Penn State."
A very even game from the start, goalkeeper Josh Levine kept the defensive unit strong with a diving save in the 20th minute to keep the game scoreless.
An AMAZING save from @PennStateMSOC's Josh Levine! Full extension! #WeAre pic.twitter.com/eo7ekC1Uw8
— BTN Student U (@BTNStudentU) August 28, 2018
Three minutes later, a seemingly great pass from Callum Pritchatt to Austin Maloney was saved at the line by Falcons goalkeeper Anthony Mwembia.
The rest of the first half remained the back-and-forth game as both teams headed into the locker room at halftime with one shot-on-goal each and one save.
In the second half, freshman striker Jeremy Rafanello took two shots early that were both blocked by the Falcon defense. Rafanello then passed a great ball up the middle to Beckford whose shot went just high of the net.
The Falcons (0-2-0) then saw three corner kicks but the Nittany Lion (1-1-0) defense was able to clear the ball each time.
Then after a Penn State offsides call, the Nittany Lions were unfazed as they regained possession. Gallagher from outside the top-right corner of the box saw Mwembia just off his line and was able to find Beckford inside the box who headed the ball into the back of the net for what ended up being the game-winning goal.
Beautiful feed from Gallagher and an INSANE finish from Beckford!! This header breaks the tie and puts @PennStateMSOC up a goal! #WeAre #BTNStandout pic.twitter.com/URClJK75M5
— Penn State On BTN (@PennStateOnBTN) August 29, 2018
Beckford's goal marks his first of the season while Gallagher recorded his first assist of his career. Levine finished with three saves on the match, also earning his first win of the season.
Up next the Nittany Lions hit the road for the first time in the 2018 campaign, traveling to Rhode Island to face the Rams on Friday, Aug. 31 at 7 p.m. The Blue and White will then play their third game in seven games as they return to University Park and Jeffrey Field at 1 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 3 as they take on the Oregon State Beavers.