Penn State Starts Big Ten Play with NorthwesternPenn State Starts Big Ten Play with Northwestern
Mark Selders

Penn State Starts Big Ten Play with Northwestern

Opens in a new window Game Notes

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Penn State men's soccer team, under fourth-year head coach Jeff Cook, opens Big Ten Conference play by hosting the Northwestern Wildcats on Friday, Sept. 17 at Jeffrey Field. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. and will stream live on Big Ten Network+.
 
GAME INFORMATION

Parking Information
Parking for all Penn State Athletics' non-football events will require a valid permit or payment of the applicable parking fee for campus lots. Fans with valid Penn State University Park parking permits will be permitted to park at non-football athletics events for free, following Transportation Services parking policies and access.
 
For men's soccer matches, fans are asked to park in the Jordan East, Stadium West or Porter North lots. Fans without a permit are encouraged to prepay for event parking at a discounted rate of $5.50 through ParkMobile - https://psu.parkmobile.io/. Prepayment is available through 11:59 p.m. the day prior to each event. Event day parking will be $10 per vehicle and is cash only/can be purchased on the ParkMobile app. The East Deck is also available for most events for $1 per hour.
 
Parking for all non-football athletics events is managed by Penn State Transportation Services. For more information or questions, visit transportation.psu.edu or email parking@psu.edu.
 
NINTH ANNUAL MACK BRADY MATCH

  • Friday's match with Northwestern marks the ninth annual Mack Brady Match, traditionally held on the team's Big Ten home opener, as the Nittany Lions help celebrate the life and legacy of one of their biggest fans.
  • At the age of eight, Brady passed away on Dec. 31, 2012 following an unexpected blood infection. To honor his life and love for soccer, especially goalkeeping, Mack's parents, Christian and Elizabeth Brady, created the "Mack Brady Memorial Soccer Fund." The fund is an endowment for Penn State goalkeepers to assist with recruiting, equipment and other needs.
  • Penn State has always found a way to win in the Mack Brady Match, with a 5-1-2 record in those games, including shutouts in the last two seasons.

LAST TIME OUT

  • Penn State was ultimately topped by a very good Pitt team, 1-0, Monday evening at Jeffrey Field after giving up an early goal to the 15th-ranked Panthers.
  • After both teams worked to establish the pace of play in the opening minutes of the match that was broadcast nationally on FS1, the visiting team passed a long ball down the right-side of the pitch in which a Pitt player beat out a Penn State defender and crossed the ball into the middle of the box to find the ACC leading scorer Rodrigo Almeida for the score.
  • The Nittany Lion defense tried to shake off the defensive miscue over the next 25 minutes as the Panthers dominated possession and would end up outshooting the home team, 8-2, after the first 45 minutes of action.
  • Penn State worked hard in the second half to find the equalizing goal, but the Pitt defense held strong for the eventual shutout. 

SCOUTING NORTHWESTERN

  • Northwestern is led by first-year head coach Russell Payne after long-time head coach Tim Lenahan retired after the conclusion of the 2020-21 season. The Wildcats are 2-2-2 overall before opening conference play in Happy Valley Friday.
  • Freshman Paul Son paces the Wildcats with five points on two goals and an assist. Eight other players have also recorded points this season.
  • In net, Northwestern has had two goalkeepers split time with both graduate student Ethan Bandre and classmate Miha Miskovic. The two each have one shutout and one combined shutout. Miskovic has played the most minutes at 380:00 and holds a 0.71 goals-against average with a 0.833 save percentage and 15 saves. Bandre has played 155:00 minutes and holds a 0.58 goals-against average with a 0.833 save percentage.

PENN STATE AGAINST NORTHWESTERN

  • Penn State holds a 27-8-4 all-time series advantage over Northwestern.
  • The Nittany Lions currently have a four-game unbeaten streak against the Wildcats with three wins and a draw dating back to the 2017 season.
  • Last season, Danny Bloyou scored the game-winner in overtime for Penn State on the road in Evanston.

NEXT TIME OUT
Penn State finishes its three-game homestand with its final match against an in-state rival this season, welcoming Villanova to Happy Valley on Tuesday, Sept. 21. Kickoff from Jeffrey Field will be at 7 p.m. and will stream live on Big Ten Network+.