UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Penn State men's soccer enters the Big Ten Tournament this weekend as the No. 2 seed with a 6-1-1 conference record for the second-straight season. The Nittany Lions were able to remain atop the conference due to exceptional play in all facets. It was clear from watching Penn State play throughout this abbreviated spring season that this outcome was a total team effort, especially behind the emergence of new goal-scoring threats.
Head coach Jeff Cook highlighted the importance of depth all season long, knowing that numerous faces had to emerge for the team to continue 2019's success into this unique spring season.
"We are going to need everybody to contribute," said Cook. "That's one of the things that I'm most excited about with this group - we have options."
The goal scoring department was no exception. The Nittany Lions entered this season without two of their three leading goal scorers from the fall of 2019. Both midfielder Aaron Molloy and forward Christian Sload graduated following the previous campaign. The duo combined for 14 of Penn State's 38 goals last season, and factoring in assists, the two were responsible for over 35 percent of the Nittany Lions offensive production. Liam Butts, whose nine goals tied with Molloy for the team lead last season, was limited in action this spring, battling through injury for most of the season. With no other returning Nittany Lions accounting for more than two goals in 2019, the void up top was left to be filled by two newcomers, who rose to the occasion.
Peter Mangione and Danny Bloyou have both thrived in their first season at Penn State. Freshman Mangione, who arrived early in the spring of 2020, had been eagerly awaiting his chance to make an impression in the Blue White.
"I wanted to come to a big-time school and play in a big conference like the Big Ten and contribute right away," said Mangione. "That's why I came in a semester early - so I could give myself the best chance of doing that."
Mangione did just that, scoring four goals in six games this season, three of which were game winners. With two of those game-winners coming in Penn State's first two contests, the freshman was named Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week to kick off his collegiate career.
"I contribute a lot of that to the rest of the guys on the team," said Mangione. "Individual success comes with collective success first."
When it wasn't Mangione thriving up top for the Nittany Lions, it was Bloyou. He mirrored Mangione's magic, with four tallies of his own. The highlight of Bloyou's season thus far, without a doubt, is his overtime winner against Northwestern, which was pivotal in extending Penn State's five-game unbeaten run to end the regular season.
"Before overtime, he (coach Cook) acknowledged it was time to give everything we had," said Bloyou. "We just wanted to get the win and be on our way."
While Bloyou might be new to the Big Ten, transferring in from Old Dominion, he has a great familiarity with Cook and several Nittany Lion teammates from his time with the Philadelphia Union Academy, a history he praises highly for his quick adjustment this season.
"I think everything happened for a reason," said Bloyou. "I know people here who want me to succeed as much as I want to succeed. I'm happy that I'm here and that my pathway came this way."
Mangione and Bloyou's eight combined goals make them the second-highest scoring duo in the Big Ten, but they're not the only offensive standouts on this Penn State team. Redshirt senior captain Pierre Reedy has also tallied four goals in this eight-game slate. Reedy, alongside junior Seth Kuhn, who has a goal and two assists to his name, have pulled the strings in the midfield. Penn State's fullback play has also been pivotal to its offensive output, with freshman Tyger Evans assisting two goals and winning a penalty for the Nittany Lions in his opening act.
"There's a lot of brilliant guys who put us as forwards in the best position to be successful," said Bloyou. "Without their contribution, we wouldn't be able to celebrate the goals you guys see."
It's clear that Penn State's offense has not just been versatile, but timely. Coach Cook recognized the offensive execution must be even more potent to make Penn State's aspiring postseason run a reality. Still, Cook remains optimistic that the team is certainly up to the task.
"I've been really impressed with the mentality of our guys," said Cook. "They know it's going to be difficult, but I think we also have a strong inner-belief in what we're doing."
All in all, Penn State's 1.75 goals per contest is second in the Big Ten, making it back-to-back seasons the Nittany Lions have found themselves in the top two for that category. Penn State will look to continue its offensive prowess into the postseason, starting with a matchup against Ohio State at Jeffrey Field to kick off the Big Ten Tournament, Saturday at noon.
