PRINCETON, N.J. – The Penn State men's soccer team (5-3-1, 1-0-0 Big Ten) was topped by Princeton (3-3-0, 0-0-0 Ivy League), 1-0, Saturday afternoon at Sherrerd Field.
"Despite an improved second-half performance where we were able to create some good goal-scoring opportunities, I feel that overall Princeton deserved to win today's game," said head coach Jeff Cook. "Our first-half performance was uncharacteristically flat resulting in a one-goal lead for Princeton at halftime. Owen Elliott made a couple of key saves in the second half to allow us to continue searching for the tying goal and I'm proud of the way our team kept going until the very end to try to get back in the game."
Penn State controlled a lot of the game through the first 20 minutes with some good chances in the box, but the Princeton defense stood solid to clear the ball and keep the Nittany Lions out of the back of the net.
On the opposite end, the Penn State defensed stayed composed on the Princeton counterattacks as the Tigers threatened, especially on corner kicks.
In the 44th minute, the Tigers had an initial shot blocked and then a cross sent in on the rebound that was finished on the far post for the home team to carry a 1-0 lead into the break.
The Nittany Lions got their first shot on goal in the 57th minute by redshirt senior Brandon Hackenberg but it went right at the Tigers' keeper.
Just about 10 minutes later, Penn State earned a free kick in the final third of the pitch and Hackenberg had a rocket of a shot off the set piece but it went high over the crossbar.
Princeton tried to make it 2-0 in the 75th minute but redshirt sophomore goalkeeper Owen Elliott had a great one-handed save to tip it over the crossbar and out of play.
Penn State had numbers forward for the final minutes of the game in hopes of finding the equalizer. Junior Liam Butts had another chance for the Nittany Lions late in the 85th minute on a header that went just left of the net.
The Tigers would hang on for the 1-0 win on their home field.
UP NEXT
Penn State returns to Big Ten play on the road at Michigan State in East Lansing, Mich. on Friday, Oct. 1. Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m. and will stream live on B1G+.
