UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Penn State men's soccer team hits the road for the first time in 2018 Big Ten Conference play, traveling to Ann Arbor, Mich. The Nittany Lions will face No. 21 Michigan on Friday, Sept. 21 at 7 p.m. at U-M Soccer Stadium.
FOLLOW ALONG
Friday'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 MICHIGAN
Penn State and Michigan have met 22 times with the Nittany Lions leading the all-time series, 11-9-2. Last season, Penn State fell just short, 2-1, in double overtime at Jeffrey Field. The Blue and White will look to snap a three-game Wolverine winning streak.
SCOUTING MICHIGAN
Michigan is 5-1-0, 1-0-0 Big Ten through the first third of the 2018 season. They hold wins over South Florida, UC Riverside, Western Michigan, Marquette, and most recently Rutgers in the Big Ten opener. The Wolverines' only loss came in the season opener against Tulsa.
Sophomore Umar Farouk Osman is the leading man for Michigan, with 10 points (four goals, two assists) through six games. Fellow sophomore Mohammed Zakyi has eight points (two goals, four assists). Sophomore goalkeeper Henry Mashburn has played all six games in between the posts for Michigan, only allowing four goals to get pass him for a 0.66 goals against average. Masburn and the Wolverine backline have also recorded four shutouts.
LAST TIME AGAINST MICHIGAN
The Nittany Lions dropped a close game in double overtime (2-1) to then-No. 20 Michigan at Jeffrey Field. The Blue and White held the ranked Wolverines to a 1-1 tie until the final 30 seconds of overtime when a shot from the top of the box fell in underneath the crossbar. Josh Levine made his first career start that game, tallying nine saves. Ethan Beckford scored his first collegiate goal to put Penn State up early in the first half.
BIG TEN OPENING DAY VICTORY
The Penn State men's soccer team rallied for a 3-1 victory over Big Ten foe Ohio State in the conference opener at Jeffrey Field Sunday afternoon. Three different Nittany Lions scored in the victory, including a first career goal by redshirt junior Stephen Kenney. Junior Aaron Molloy and senior Mac Curran provided the other two while redshirt senior Ryan Gallagher, sophomore Callum Pritchatt and Molloy added assists. Penn State is now 15-11-2 in Big Ten regular season openers since joining the conference in 1991.
FIRST MULTIPLE-GOAL GAME OF 2018
The Nittany Lions scored three goals in the Big Ten opener victory against Ohio State on Sunday, Sept. 16 to mark the first game of the 2018 season scoring multiple goals in a single match. It was also the first game since Oct. 21, 2016 (vs. Rutgers) that the Blue and White have scored three goals in a single game and the first time since Sept. 20, 2017 (vs. Detroit Mercy) that they have won by multiple goals within the friendly confines of Jeffrey Field.
SIXTH ANNUAL MACK BRADY MATCH
The Nittany Lions celebrated the life and legacy of one of their biggest fans in the Sixth Annual Mack Brady Match on Sunday, Sept. 16 against Ohio State.
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 continue to always find a way to win the Mack Brady Match, now holding a 4-1-1 record on that day.
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. 5, respectively. Michigan moved into the top-25 this week, checking in at No. 21 after receiving votes the last few polls. UCF (Aug. 24; L, 1-2 2OT), Rhode Island (Aug. 31; L, 0-1), and Villanova (Sept. 8; L, 1-2) all received votes in this week's 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 definitley 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.
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+.
