UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.- From the moment you walk onto the campus of the Pennsylvania State University, you can sense the tradition that comes with it. From the "We Are" to the alma mater to the Lion Shrine, Penn State is pouring at the seams with history.
The history doesn't stop there for the Penn State men's soccer team, but actually continues into family history. On the current roster, the Nittany Lions have three players who have had a family member play in the classic Blue and White soccer uniform.
"The power of Penn State," first year head coach Jeff Cook said. "The special passion that our alums and community members feel about their connection to Penn State whether you graduated from here, a current student, or you live in Happy Valley there is a very strong connection to Penn State."
In 1983, with eight seconds remaining on the clock, the Nittany Lions made a throw-in pass to forward David Dabora, who then fed the ball to Bob Waizenegger who knocked it in with only three seconds remaining.
David Debora would play for Penn State from 1982-1986 and helped the Nittany Lions reach the NCAA quarterfinals in 1985 and again, in 1986 before hanging up his cleats. But this wouldn't be the last time you heard the Dabora name.
David's son, Josh Dabora, would later start his recruiting process and would join the Nittany Lions' roster in 2018 as a freshman forward.
"When I was five, for Halloween, my dad would dress me in a Penn State football outfit," Dabora said. "Penn State was the only school I saw. It's where I always wanted to be."
In high school, Dabora helped lead his team to two NPL NorCal State Cup Championships and two NPL National Cup Semifinals. While playing for the De Anza Force U19 team, he scored 14 goals and had nine assists.
On the other side of the ball, redshirt senior Ryan Gallagher watched his older brother John play for the Nittany Lions from 2008-2012.
"It means the world to me to play after my brother went here," Gallagher said. "I definitely want to fill his shoes, but because my brother and I compete in almost everything we do, I want to do even bigger and better things than he did when he was playing here."
John Gallagher graduated from Penn State in 2012 as captain for the Nittany Lions and after earning All-Big Ten First Team and the Ralph and Joan Brower Scholarship. Following his career as a Nittany Lion, he was drafted by Major League Soccer's Chicago Fire as the 30th overall selection of the Supplemental Draft.
"This definitely motivates me and challenges me to be a better player," Gallagher explained. "Not only because I want to be even better than him, but I also want to make my family, especially my brother, proud."
Gallagher, who is now on his final season for the Nittany Lions, is doing just that. From 2016-2018, he appeared in 30 matches with 25 starts. He also earned the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award back in 2016 and was named to the Academic All-Big Ten from 2015-2017.
Cook explained that he has not yet had the chance to meet Gallagher's brother, John, but knew about his very successful career at Penn State and that he was a member of several talented teams.
Senior midfielder Austin Maloney knew coming to Penn State would mean continuing the legacy that his older brother, Connor Maloney had made as a Nittany Lion. Connor Maloney played for the blue and white from 2013-2016, which meant for two years, Penn State soccer was able to have both Maloney brothers on the field.
Maloney was named a member of the All-Big Ten freshman team in 2015 and was Academic All-Big Ten in his 2016 and 2017 seasons. He also is a two-time Big Ten Distinguished Scholar (2016-17, 2017-18). Maloney has appeared in 43 matches for the Nittany Lions with 39 starts since his freshmen year.
"He motivates me every day," said Maloney. "The accolades he accomplished here were tremendous and I strive every day to try and get there. Is it obviously pretty tough, but it puts a burden on my back and it pushes me every single day. I enjoy it."
Connor Maloney led Penn State in points for all four seasons he played as a Nittany Lion, led in assists in 2013 and 2016, and led in goals during his final three seasons at Penn State. He was named a member of the 2013 Big Ten All-Freshmen Team and All-Big Ten First Team in 2014, 2015, and 2016. In 2014, Connor was named the Big Ten Player of the Year and was seventh all-time in game-winning goals (5). He is now a member of the Columbus Crew of the MLS.
Cook constantly emphasizes to the players the importance of creating a legacy at Penn State and the program he wants to build for not only the team, but the community.
"Those kinds of legacies and those connections over the years, build something," Cook said. "That we want to have a program here that our former players will be really proud of. We want our supporters talking about Penn State men's soccer and the program we want to build here over the next few years. We want people really excited to support and be a part of the Blue and White."