STONY BROOK, N.Y. – The Penn State men's soccer team (1-1-0) picked up its first win of the season over Stony Brook (0-2-0) Monday evening at Kenneth P. LaValle Stadium.
"I'm so proud of the players for showing the mental strength to produce a performance like that and earn an important win for the program," said head coach Jeff Cook. "From the first whistle we were full of energy and intensity which set the tone for the game. This is a result and performance that we can build on, and we look forward to our next games in Florida."
Senior captain Aaron Molloy scored twice in the victory, including a penalty kick conversion, for a career-high four points and the first multi-goal game of his career.
Penn State controlled most of the game offensively, outshooting Stony Brook, 23-11, while earning 10 corner kicks.
The Blue and White seemed to take an early lead in the 13th minute after Stony Brook was called for an offsides. Molloy took the free kick from just beyond midfield and found the back of the net, but the referee called it off for not being an indirect free kick.
The Penn State offense continued to press through the next 20 minutes, with senior Christian Sload finally breaking through the defense with help from classmate Kyle Perno in the 32nd minute for the 1-0 Nittany Lion lead to take the teams into halftime.
Stony Brook opened the second half with a goal in the 51st minute to tie the game at 1-1.
The defense, behind freshman goalkeeper Kris Shakes who made his first career start in net, gathered themselves and only allowed five more shots after the Seawolves goal.
Penn State retook the lead in the 55th minute when freshman defender Alex Stevenson found the back of the net from right inside the top right corner of the box off the cross from classmate Andrew Privett.
Molloy found redemption in the 64th minute with his shot around the 18' off a couple rebounds snuck past the Seawolves' goalkeeper.
In the 76th minute, Stony Brook was called for a hand ball in the box to award Penn State with a penalty kick. Molloy took the attempt and went left with the shot for the goal and the eventual 4-1 winning score.
The four goals are the most goals by Penn State in a single game since the 2017 season when they scored six at Rutgers (10/22/17).
Penn State remains undefeated all-time against Stony Brook, with both victories by a three-goal margin.
The Nittany Lions continue their three-game road stand, heading south to the Sunshine State over the weekend for matchups with No. 15 UCF on Friday, Sept. 6 at 7 p.m. and Stetson on Sunday, Sept. 8 at 1 p.m.
