UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa – The Penn State men's soccer team (2-1, 2-1 Big Ten) returns to the pitch Monday to host Rutgers at Jeffrey Field. Kickoff is set for noon and will be broadcast live on Big Ten Network with Chris Vosters (pxp) and Chris Doran (analyst) on the call.
GAME INFORMATION
- Date: Monday, March 15, 2021 | Time: Noon ET
- Location: University Park, Pa. | Venue: Jeffrey Field
- Live Stats: GoPSUsports.com | Watch: Big Ten Network
PENN STATE AGAINST RUTGERS
- Penn State and Rutgers face off for the second time this season on the back end of a home-and-home series.
- The Nittany Lions won the first match against the Scarlet Knights, 2-1, in Piscataway back on Feb. 23, powered by goals from Danny Bloyou and Peter Mangione. Head coach Jeff Cook picked up his 200th career win with the victory.
- Penn State leads the all-time series over Rutgers, 15-8-0, including seven-straight wins.
SCOUTING RUTGERS
- Rutgers, led by second-year head coach Jim McElderry, is 3-2 through the first half of the regular season, including a convincing 2-0 win over Maryland.
- Senior Ritchie Barry leads the Scarlet Knights with six points on a team-high three goals while sophomore Jackson Temple also has six points on two goals and two assists. Temple had a penalty-kick goal against the Nittany Lions in the teams' first match-up this season.
- In net, sophomore Oren Asher has earned two Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week honors this season. He holds a 0.60 goals against average and a .800 save percentage with 22 total saves and three shutouts.
LONG AWAITED RETURN TO JEFFREY FIELD
- Penn State returns to playing on the beloved pitch of Jeffrey Field for the first time in 477 days.
- The Nittany Lions played their previous two home games indoors in Holuba Hall due to weather.
TWO GAMES POSTPONED
- Penn State returns to the pitch after two weeks off from game play due to two postponements and then a scheduled bye week.
- Penn State's games at Michigan and Indiana scheduled for Wed., March 3 and Sat., March 7, respectively, were postponed due to positive COVID-19 results among Penn State's Tier 1 personnel.
- The institutions will work with the Big Ten Conference to identify rescheduling options.
NATIONAL TV DEBUT
- The Nittany Lions make their debut on national television Monday as the game is scheduled to be on Big Ten Network.
200 CAREER WINS
- Head coach Jeff Cook picked up his 200th career win as a collegiate head coach in the victory at Rutgers on Feb. 23.
- Cook has 23 years of collegiate head coaching experience, with stints at Wheaton College, Cincinnati and Dartmouth before coming to Penn State in 2018.
- He is 20-14-5 so far in his third season as the leader of the Nittany Lions.
NEXT TIME OUT
Penn State will travel to Evanston, Ill. To face Northwestern on Friday, March 19. The game is slated for a 1 p.m. ET kickoff.