UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Penn State men's soccer team (1-4-0), under first-year head coach Jeff Cook, opens 2018 Big Ten conference play with Ohio State (1-4-1) on Sunday, Sept. 16 at 1 p.m. at Jeffrey Field.
FOLLOW ALONG
Sunday's match will be streamed live via BTN+. Viewers must have a login to watch. Fans can also follow along by following the team on Twitter, @PennStateMSOC.
PENN STATE AGAINST OHIO STATE
Penn State and Ohio State have met 36 times with the Nittany Lions leading the all-time series, 18-14-4. Last season, the Buckeyes won, 3-0, on their home pitch.
SCOUTING OHIO STATE
Ohio State is 1-4-1 through the first part of the 2018 season. Their only win came opening weekend when the Buckeyes took down Hofstra, 1-0, on Sunday, Aug. 26. Most recently, the Buckeyes recorded a 1-1 draw with Bowling Green (Tuesday, Sept. 11).
Jake Scheper and Joshua Jackson-Ketchup each have one goal for the Buckeyes in 2018 while Jacob Goyen has added the lone assist. Parker Siegfried has played all six games in net, recording 22 total saves with a 0.98 goals against average.
BIG TEN OPENERS
Penn State men's soccer is 14-11-2 in Big Ten regular season openers since joining the conference in 1991.
SIXTH ANNUAL MACK BRADY MATCH
Sunday's match with Ohio State marks the sixth annual Mack Brady Match as the Nittany Lions help celebrate the life and legacy of one of their biggest fans.
At the age of eight, Brady passed away on Dec. 31, 2012 following an unexpected blood infection. To honor his life and love for soccer (especially goalkeeping), Mack's parents, Christian and Elizabeth Brady, created the "Mack Brady Memorial Soccer Fund." The fund is an endowment for Penn State goalkeepers to assist with recruiting, equipment and other needs.
The Blue and White have always found a way in the Mack Brady Match, coming in to the 2018 match with a 4-1-1 record.
COACH COOK'S FIRST WIN
First-year head coach Jeff Cook picked up his first win at the helm of Penn State men's soccer on Tuesday, Aug. 28 when the Nittany Lions defeated Bowling Green, 1-0. Ryan Gallagher and Ethan Beckford connected in the 80th minute to lift the Nittany Lions over the Falcons for the team's first win in 2018.
STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE
The Penn State men's soccer team has three 2018 opponents ranked in the latest United Soccer Coaches' national poll (Sept. 11), with three more receiving votes. Indiana (Sept. 30) and Michigan State (Sept. 26) both come ranked in the top-5, at No. 2 and No. 4, respectively. Last week's opponent in Villanova (Sept. 8; L, 1-2) moved up to No. 13 in week three. UCF (Aug. 24; L, 1-2 2OT), Michigan (Sept. 21), and Rhode Island (Aug. 31; L, 0-1) all received votes in the poll.
NEWCOMERS MAKE PENN STATE DEBUT
Freshman forward Jeremy Rafanello made his Penn State debut on Friday, Aug. 24, starting on the frontline for the Nittany Lions, and definitely not holding back. The Delran, N.J., native came out in full force, scoring the first goal of the 2018 campaign for the Nittany Lions, and the first goal of his collegiate career, in the ninth minute to put the Blue and White up early. Rafanello had five total shots and two shots on goal in the match to lead the team offensively.
Defensively, Georgetown transfer Mason Deeds also made his Penn State debut on Friday, Aug. 24, helping hold down the Nittany Lions' backline for all 90 minutes. Sophomore transfer Keegan Ness made his debut donning the Blue and White on Monday, Sept. 3 against his former team.
MARKS, MOLLOY NAMED 2018 TEAM CAPTAINS
Redshirt senior Dani Marks and junior Aaron Molloy have been selected as team captains of the 2018 Penn State men's soccer team as announced by first-year head coach Jeff Cook.
The 2018 captaincy will be the third time Marks will lead the team in such capacity as he was also the team captain for the 2015 and 2017 seasons. It will be the first such honor for Molloy after joining the Nittany Lions in 2017.
Marks returns to University Park in 2018 for his final season with the Blue and White. The Ra'anana, Israel, native defender started 16 games for the Nittany Lions last season, logging 1,427 minutes on the pitch and anchoring the backline to two shutouts on the season. Marks also had one assist in 2017 and earned Academic All-Big Ten honors for the third consecutive season.
Molloy played and started in 16 games in his first season with the Blue and White. The Dublin, Ireland, native logged 1,396 minutes on the pitch and scored three goals in 2017, the second most on the team.
NEXT TIME OUT
Penn State men's soccer hits the road for the first time in conference play, traveling to Ann Arbor, Mich. to take on Michigan on Friday, Sept. 21 at 7 p.m. The game will be streamed live on BTN+.
