Penn State Shuts Out Michigan State, 1-0Penn State Shuts Out Michigan State, 1-0
Mark Selders

Penn State Shuts Out Michigan State, 1-0

Opens in a new window Box Score (PDF)
Box Score

EAST LANSING, Mich. – With 20 shots in the second half alone, it was only a matter of time until the Penn State men's soccer team (6-3-1, 2-0-0 Big Ten) found the back of the net in the 87th minute to win, 1-0, over Michigan State (4-5-1, 0-2-1 Big Ten) Friday evening at DeMartin Stadium.
 
"That was a very important victory against a determined and talented Michigan State team," said head coach Jeff Cook. "I felt that our players did an excellent job taking control of the game in the second half and deserved the goal that eventually won the game. Michigan State is a very dangerous opponent and I felt that our team's defensive commitment was outstanding and played a significant role in the outcome tonight."
 
It was a fast paced first half as both teams looked to establish control of the match.
 
In the ninth minute, sophomore Peter Mangione actually took his second shot of the game after making a good move in the box to create space to have a look that went just high over the crossbar.
 
Michigan State would take the next two shots of the game, but both were blocked by the Penn State backline.
 
In the 34th minute, the Spartans earned a free kick about 35 yards out in which Louis Sala took a shoot directly off the free kick but junior goalkeeper Kris Shakes made a leaping save at the top-left corner of the net to keep the score at 0-0.

 
Redshirt senior Pierre Reedy had Penn State's first shot on goal in the closing minute of the first 45 on a header that was saved by Michigan State's keeper.
 
The Spartans would go into the break with a 6-3 advantage on shots, but overall the first half was very evenly matched.
 
Penn State came out guns blazing in the second half, immediately establishing pace of play and offensive control.
 
In a nearly five minute span starting in the 50th minute, the Nittany Lions ripped off four shots right in the six off corner kicks, but the Michigan State defense and goalkeeper Hunter Morse stood strong at the goal line to keep the ball out of the back of the net.
 
The match took a turn in the 57th minute as the Spartans' Jack Zugay was assessed a straight red card for a spikes-up sliding tackle on Mangione and Penn State would go to a man-up advantage for the remainder of the game.
 
From there, Penn State just dominated on the offensive end, firing off a total of 20 shots in the second half to Michigan State's one. It was only a matter of time that one would find the back of the net after Morse made nine saves in the second half to keep his team in the game.
 
Finally in the 87th minute, sophomore Tyger Evans took an initial shot from the left of the six that was saved, but Morse couldn't hold on to the ball and senior Danny Bloyou came in for the rebound score to give the Nittany Lions the 1-0 lead with about three minutes to play.

 
Shakes finished with two saves in the match and his second shutout of the season, the first in conference play.
 
UP NEXT
Penn State wraps up a three-game road trip in Piscataway, N.J. on Tuesday, Oct. 5 at No. 24 Rutgers. The match is slated for a 6 p.m. kickoff live on the Big Ten Network.
 
GAME NOTES

  • Sophomore Tyger Evans recorded his first point of the season. He is the ninth Nittany Lion to record at least one point this season.
  • Junior goalkeeper Kris Shakes registered his ninth career shutout, and fifth in Big Ten play.
  • Penn State took a team season-high 11 shots on goal.
  • The Penn State defense held Michigan State to just one shot in the second half as the offense put up a single-half season-high 20 shots.