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Craig Houtz

Butts Scores Twice as Penn State Shuts Out Michigan State on the Road

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EAST LANSING, Mich. – The Penn State men's soccer team (5-1-2, 2-0-1 Big Ten) only continues to show grit through the first half of the 2019 season, extending its unbeaten streak to seven games and shutting out the Michigan State Spartans (1-6-2, 1-1-0 Big Ten), 3-0, Tuesday evening at DeMartin Stadium.

"I knew we would have to be near our very best to have a chance to win tonight," said head coach Jeff Cook. "I thought our players got their attitude correct in terms of our approach to the game and I'm very proud of the overall performance over the 90 minutes. We scored really impressive goals and our team defending withstood several periods of Michigan State pressure. This was an important win on the road in the Big Ten and we look forward to getting ready for Sunday's home match with Indiana."

The freshmen duo of Liam Butts and Andrew Privett scored all three goals for the Nittany Lions on the road, the second time in conference play the pair has performed in such way.

The first nearly 30 minutes of action only saw two shots from both teams as Penn State controlled the pace of play and was able to get on the board first with Butts' goal in the 28th minute.

Senior captain Aaron Molloy chipped the ball in from midfield before fellow captain Pierre Reedy flicked the ball off his head to Butts in the right side of the box and he was able to get the left-footed strike past the sprawling Spartan goalkeeper.


Sophomore Seth Kuhn also had two great looks at net in the first half but both shots were saved by Hunter Morse to keep the Nittany Lions with a one-goal lead at the break.

Michigan State came out rolling in the second half, firing off four quick shots in the first seven minutes to keep the Penn State defense on its toes.

However in the 58th minute, Penn State repossessed control of the game as Molloy had two shots in the six that were blocked by the Spartans.

Redshirt freshman Josh Dabora also had a breakaway chance in the 67th minute but Morse made the save off his line to keep Michigan State in the game.

Privett added the insurance goal for Penn State a minute later off the cross from Dabora.


Butts sealed the deal for the Nittany Lions in the 80th minute as he connected with Reedy for the second time in the game for the final 3-0 scoreline.
 

Penn State goalkeeper Josh Levine only had to make two saves in the match while the Nittany Lions put Morse to work as he made seven saves on Penn State's 10 shots on net and 14 total.

Levine earned his second-straight shutout and the Nittany Lions' fourth of the season.

The Nittany Lions return to Happy Valley for a three-game home stand, first welcoming the eighth-ranked Indiana Hoosiers to town on Sunday, Oct. 6 for a 1 p.m. kick at Jeffrey Field.

Game Notes:

  • Penn State beat Michigan State for the first time since 2016 and the first time in East Lansing since 2013.
  • Penn State is unbeaten since the season opener, winning or drawing the last seven matches, including a perfect 4-0-1 on the road.
  • The Nittany Lions continue their best start since the 2014 season, moving to 5-1-2 overall. It is also their best start in conference play since 2014.
  • Freshman Liam Butts had his first career multi-goal game and his second game-winning goal of the season (first – at Ohio State in overtime).
  • Redshirt junior Pierre Reedy had his first career multi-point game with two assists, also his first points since returning to play for the first time in two seasons.
  • Redshirt freshman Josh Dabora recorded his first career assist.