UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – After months of waiting and planning amidst a global pandemic, Penn State men's soccer will take the field for the first time in 453 days on Friday when it hosts Maryland in Holuba Hall. This will be the first game of an abbreviated 10-game conference-only schedule for Penn State and the rest of the Big Ten. Head coach Jeff Cook and the Nittany Lions are ready to embrace the uniqueness of the upcoming season, and all the challenges that await them.
"I feel there is a very positive aspect to that," said Cook. "This is a very special conference. In my opinion (the Big Ten) is one of the very strongest, if not the strongest, top-to-bottom conference in the entire country."
Penn State will have to adjust quickly from the long layoff. The Nittany Lions are slated to play every four days for the duration of the regular season, with the exception of a seven-day gap between contests at the midway point. Cook realizes the depth of the team will be challenged, but remains adamant that his squad is up to the task.
"That's one of the things I'm most excited about in this group - we have options," said Cook. "The technical level of this team is certainly the highest since I've been at Penn State."
Another prominent topic heading into the season is the Nittany Lions' defense. Redshirt senior captain Brandon Hackenberg, who returns to help lead the backline after being recently selected by Orlando City SC in the first round of the 2021 MLS SuperDraft, has already expressed his optimism with the rest of the squad around him.
"Since we've gotten back in the spring, everyone has put themselves in good positions," said Hackenberg. "Personally, I'm super confident in our backline, no matter who the coaching staff puts out there."
Throughout the extended offseason, Cook has continued to instill a style of play for Penn State predicated on defensive structure.
"We pride ourselves on our defensive qualities," said Cook. "We have to defend as a team, that includes the strikers right through to the goalkeepers."
Despite alterations to the season that lies ahead for the Nittany Lions, one thing remains constant - championship aspirations. Hackenberg emphasized how an already experienced roster looks to go even further after returning the program to the NCAA Tournament a season ago.
"Our goal is to just take everything game by game," said Hackenberg, "and use our experience and our talents to make the most out of the 10 regular season games we have and both the Big Ten Tournament and the NCAA Tournament."
While the team is excited to return to play, Cook wants to keep the players mindful that the COVID-19 pandemic is still very real, along with emphasizing gratitude that Penn State is in a position to play this spring.
"We feel very fortunate," said Cook. "This game Friday will have a tremendous meaning because of the connections to our community, to our university, our student-athletes, families, alumni, and so many people who are making this possible. We are just humbled and excited to put on the jersey again and get to compete."
Redshirt senior midfielder and captain Pierre Reedy has further echoed both the sentiments of Hackenberg and Cook. He believes the Nittany Lions are up to the task and have what it takes to show resilience in the face of adversity in all facets that await them.
"We got to focus on being the best that we can be," said Reedy. "That's doing the right things off the field as well as on the field. I think this team we have right now is settled well to compete for that championship."
Cook admits that he is still not exactly sure what to expect in the Nittany Lions return to play Friday, but he does know his team and staff will take great account of themselves.
"Once the whistle blows, you can be sure that our coaching staff, our players are going to do everything possible to win that game," said Cook. "But there is something larger at play here: The ability to play and compete in the sport we love again."
Penn State will host Maryland at 6 p.m. this Friday, before heading to Piscataway, New Jersey for a Tuesday afternoon clash with Rutgers.
