Penn State Stays Undefeated in Conference Play with 2-1 Win over MichiganPenn State Stays Undefeated in Conference Play with 2-1 Win over Michigan
Craig Houtz

Penn State Stays Undefeated in Conference Play with 2-1 Win over Michigan

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Box Score

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Penn State men's soccer (8-3-1, 4-0-0 Big Ten) remains undefeated in Big Ten play after beating Michigan (5-5-2, 2-2-1 Big Ten) 2-1 on Sunday afternoon at Jeffrey Field live on Big Ten Network.
 
"I could not overstate how proud I am of our team," said head coach Jeff Cook. "It was a really difficult and challenging game. I thought we worked so hard to get control of it and get in front. Of course, it was disappointing for Michigan to tie it up, but then the response to create as many chances as we did was great. In my opinion, we deserved a second goal, if not even a third. That is very much what a championship-level Big Ten game looks like when both teams are desperate to get three points. I think our team handled themselves really well in a challenging match, and I'm very proud that we were able to win the game today."
 
The Nittany Lions started the game with a foot on the pedal, with the first shot on target coming from senior Danny Bloyou just barely two minutes in but Michigan's goalkeeper Hayden Evans was there for the save.
 
Penn State took the next two shots, including another on frame by junior Alex Stevenson. Michigan then started to find its groove a little with its first shot off target in the 12th minute.
 
Both teams continued to fire off shots in the first half, with a total of 17 being taken, as the Wolverines would head to the locker room with a slight edge, 10-7, while the score would remain 0-0.
 
Penn State was determined to strike first out of the break, with junior Andrew Privett taking a shot on target in the 48th minute that was saved by Evans.
 
Just over a minute later, sophomore Peter Mangione had a sliding pass to Bloyou from midfield and then Bloyou played Privett right at the top of the box as Privett came running in and immediately took a strike with his right foot to find the back of the net and give the Nittany Lions a 1-0 lead.

 
About 10 minutes later, sophomore Tyger Evans would get called for a foul in the box on Michigan's Derick Broche to set up a penalty kick opportunity for the Wolverines. Marc Ybarra stepped up to the spot and converted to tie the game.
 
A momentum shift would then happen in the 69th minute as Broche would be shown a straight red card for a high elbow on sophomore defender Femi Awodesu to give Penn State a man-up advantage for the remainder of the match.
 
Less than a minute later, junior Jalen Watson was running up the left side and crossed a ball into the box that deflected off a Michigan defender and went in for an own goal, giving the Nittany Lions a one-goal lead again.
 
Even a man down, the Wolverines would fight to try to find the equalizer, including a great attempt at net that was cleared off the line by redshirt senior Brandon Hackenberg in the 82nd minute.
 
Junior goalkeeper Kris Shakes finished with three saves as he and the defense held on to give Penn State its third-straight win and fourth in the league.

 
UP NEXT
Penn State readies for one final non-conference match of the regular season on the road against Akron on Wednesday, Oct. 13 in Akron, Ohio. Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m. and will stream live on ESPN+.
 
GAME NOTES

  • Junior Andrew Privett scored his fifth goal of the season to tie sophomore Peter Mangione for the team lead in goals.
  • Senior Danny Bloyou recorded his fourth assist of the season on Privett's goal. His four assists surpass his previous career high of one last season.
  • Penn State is 4-0-0 to start Big Ten play for the first time since 2014 when it also started that conference season with four-straight wins.
  • Penn State opponents have been shown red cards in three games this season (vs. Villanova, at Michigan State, vs. Michigan) in which the Nittany Lions have been able to win all three.