Penn State Readies for Last Non-Conference Match at AkronPenn State Readies for Last Non-Conference Match at Akron
Craig Houtz

Penn State Readies for Last Non-Conference Match at Akron

Opens in a new window Game Notes

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Penn State men's soccer team, under fourth-year head coach Jeff Cook, has one final non-conference regular-season match at Akron on Wednesday, Oct. 13 in Akron, Ohio. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. and will stream live on ESPN+.
 
GAME INFORMATION

  • Date: Wednesday, Oct. 13, 2021 | Time: 7 p.m. ET
  • Location: Akron, Ohio | Venue: FirstEnergy Stadium
  • Live Stats: gozips.com | Watch: ESPN+

LAST TIME OUT

  • Penn State remained undefeated in Big Ten play after beating Michigan, 2-1, Sunday afternoon at Jeffrey Field live on Big Ten Network.
  • The Nittany Lions started the game with a foot on the pedal, with the first shot on target coming from Danny Bloyou just barely two minutes in but Michigan's goalkeeper Hayden Evans was there for the save.
  • 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 Andrew Privett taking a shot on target in the 48th minute that was saved by Evans.
  • Just over a minute later, 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, 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 Femi Awodesu to give Penn State a man-up advantage for the remainder of the match.
  • Less than a minute later, 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 Brandon Hackenberg in the 82nd minute.
  • 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. 

BIG TEN OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

  • Senior forward Danny Bloyou is the most recent Nittany Lion to be named Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week (10/12) after his three-point week against Rutgers and Michigan.
  • It marked Bloyou's first career conference weekly honor.
  • Sophomore forward/midfielder Peter Mangione was named Big Ten Co-Offensive Player of the Week at the end of September after recording a hat trick against Villanova.

PRIVETT IN FORM

  • Junior midfielder Andrew Privett is really having a break-out year in 2021, currently leading the team in points with 13 on five goals and three assists.
  • 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.
  • Privett recorded a single-game career-high three points on a goal and an assist against Villanova (9/21).
  • His five goals is a career high as is his 13 total points, surpassing his previous best of two goals and seven points as a freshman in 2019.
  • His three assists ties a career best from 2019.

SCOUTING AKRON

  • Akron is led by ninth-year head coach Jared Embick and is 6-3-2 overall and 1-1-1 in Mid-American Conference play. The Zips are coming off a 3-1 loss to league opponent Georgia State on Saturday (10/9) at home.
  • Redshirt senior Diogo Pacheco paces the Zips with 14 points on five goals and four assists. Sophomore Johnny Fitzgerald leads the team with five assists. Eleven other players have recorded at least one point this season.
  • In net, redshirt senior Will Meyer has played all 11 games in 2021. He holds a 0.87 goals-against average and a 0.737 save percentage with 28 saves. He has four shutouts this season.

NEXT TIME OUT
Penn State starts a stretch of four important Big Ten games to close out the regular season, starting with Indiana at home on Sunday, Oct. 17 at Jeffrey Field. Kickoff is slated for noon and will broadcast live on Big Ten Network with Dean Linke (pxp) and Chris Munroe (analyst) on the call.