Penn State Set for In-State Clash at Penn FridayPenn State Set for In-State Clash at Penn Friday
Mark Selders

Penn State Set for In-State Clash at Penn Friday

Opens in a new window Game Notes

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Penn State men's soccer team, under fourth-year head coach Jeff Cook, is set for the first of two in-state battles this week, starting on the road in Philadelphia at the University of Pennsylvania on Friday, Sept. 10. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. and will stream live on ESPN+.
 
GAME INFORMATION

LAST TIME OUT

  • After going down by a goal early, then-No. 17 Penn State scored three unanswered goals to take down American, 3-1, on Labor Day at Jeffrey Field.
  • Junior Andrew Privett scored the equalizer in the 21st minute from senior Seth Kuhn before sophomore Peter Mangione helped the Nittany Lions take the lead less than a minute later off a back-heel flick to the net from classmate Femi Awodesu's feed into the six.
  • Out of the halftime break, Penn State made it a two-goal advantage with senior Danny Bloyou's first goal of the year in the 55th minute from junior Alex Stevenson and Kuhn.
  • Kuhn finished with two assists for his second multi-assist game of the season.
  • Junior goalkeeper Kris Shakes finished with five saves and helped his team get back in the win column after a tough result at West Virginia Friday.

SCOUTING PENN

  • The University of Pennsylvania is led by fourth-year head coach Brian Gill. The Quakers are 2-0-0 to start 2021 and are coming off a convincing 3-0 win over Colgate at home Monday.
  • Senior Matt Leigh, the reigning Ivy League Player of the Week, paces the team with five points on two goals and one assist while graduate student Joey Bhangdia also has two goals on the year, both against Colgate. Four other players have recorded points, including senior Ben Stitz who has a team-high two assists.
  • In net, senior Dane Jacomen and junior Nick Christoffersen have each played a game. Christoffersen had the shutout against Colgate while only having to make one save. Jacomen has a 0.750 save percentage with six saves in the season-opener against Fairleigh Dickinson.

PENN STATE AGAINST PENN

  • Penn State holds a 25-6-3 all-time series advantage over Penn, with a four-game win streak.
  • The two teams have not matched up since the 2015 season, also in Philly, where the Nittany Lions won, 2-0.

KUHN IN THE MIDDLE

  • Senior vice captain Seth Kuhn has proven to be an integral piece in Penn State's play, especially on the offensive end creating scoring chances as a central midfielder.
  • Kuhn paces the team with four assists to average 1.00 assists per game, a mark that is first in the league and second in the nation. The four total assists also leads the Big Ten and is tied for first nationally.
  • The Wyomissing, Pa., native has already matched his assist total from a season ago and is one shy of matching his career high (5, 2019). 

GAME-WINNERS ONLY FROM MANGIONE

  • Forward/midfielder Peter Mangione is clutch when needed most.
  • The Hunt Valley, Md., native has two goals so far this season, both eventual game-winners.
  • His two game-winning goals paces the Big Ten and is fourth nationally.
  • Mangione has eight career goals, six of which are game-winners.

PRIVETT IN FORM

  • Junior midfielder Andrew Privett is really playing well to start the 2021 season, currently pacing the Nittany Lions with five points on two goals and one assist.
  • The Fallston, Md., native is fast on the wing in run of play and can also be dangerous in the box to find the back of the net.
  • His two goals already matches a career high from his freshman season in 2019.

FIRSTS FOR FEMI

  • Sophomore defender Femi Awodesu has had an outstanding start to year two in Happy Valley, recording his first career goal at West Virginia (9/3) and his first career assist against American (9/6).
  • The Philadelphia, Pa., native is also defending well on the backline, making crucial tackles and causing turnovers to help out goalkeeper Kris Shakes and get the Nittany Lions back on offense.

NEXT TIME OUT
Penn State hosts in-state foe and 15th-ranked Pittsburgh at Jeffrey Field on Monday, Sept. 13 at 7 p.m. The match will be broadcast live on FS1 with Dave Popkin (pxp) and Monica Moore (analyst) on the call.