UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Junior midfielder Andrew Privett has had a passion for soccer his whole life. Like many other collegiate athletes, Privett began playing soccer at a young age. After getting noticed and moving from team to team, he finally settled with the Baltimore Celtics, a youth soccer club in Maryland. Eventually, Privett was recruited by then-Penn State assistant coach Ayotunde Ogunbiyi.
"Coach Tunde actually from recent years saw me and recruited me to come here," recalled Privett. "From the moment I stepped foot on campus I absolutely loved it, so it was a pretty easy decision when it came to it."
It has now been three years since Privett came to Penn State, and head coach Jeff Cook has seen great growth since then.
"We've seen a lot of growth in him and the transition from club soccer to Big Ten and Division I soccer," Cook said. "He is growing in the area of using his really high-level talent to make more of an impact on the game. He's always been able to handle the skill side and he is a very good player, but I think now using those gifts to impact the game has become something that's happening more and more regularly and that's why he is having so much success in terms of production this year."
Privett's production so far this year consists of a team-high seven goals and four assists for 18 points, career highs in every category. This production can also be credited to Privett's growth in his position over the seasons.
"As I've developed from freshman year till now, I've had the experience of playing in the same position pretty much for three years," said Privett. "So, in that aspect, I'm just growing in my position, and better understanding it.
Since Privett's freshman year he has been playing as a left-sided midfielder. This position is unique to Privett because he is a right-footed player.
"I think being on the left side as a right-footed player gives me the opportunity to just cut in on my right as well as keep going on my left," said Privett. "It's just more options in the way I play and can make it more difficult for the defense to defend against me."
Cook believes the development of Privett's two-footed technical abilities is a reason he has had success in his position.
"It presents a different problem to our opponents," said Cook. "I think it makes him a little more difficult to pick up and mark and I think that's maybe why or at least part of the reason why he's found himself in good positions offensively."
Andrew's growth and success goes beyond the goals and assists. Through his time here he has positively impacted his team in other ways.
"I think personally he's just really unselfish, I know he's gotten a ton of goals himself this year, but I think for me it's more than just the goals he's scored this year that's really impacted the team," said junior defender Alex Stevenson. "He's one of the guys on the team that every time he loses the ball or anytime anyone loses the ball he is always sprinting as hard as he can to get it back and you know he will always give one hundred percent for you."
Sophomore midfielder Peter Mangione also recognizes that it's not just Privett's technical skills that elevates the team.
"I think it's his confidence this season that's taken it from the training ground to the field," said Mangione. "I think that sort of confidence is contagious, definitely for me and the rest of the team."
Not only has Privett impacted his team on the field, but he has also been influential off the field. Privett, Stevenson, and Mangione are all roommates, which creates a special bond off the field.
"Whatever it is, we are pretty much always together," said Stevenson. "It's great living with Priv, it's great living with Pete, it's just a good relationship all around."
Due to these teammates' good relationships, they have been able to learn from each other.
"With the whole student-athlete mindset of things it's tough to manage everything and to perform at your best in training every day dealing with school and things like that," said Mangione. "Looking up to those guys it's unique for me because they're slightly older and they were here before me, so I learned so much from them."
Mangione also feels this relationship off the field has helped them in games.
"I would say that all that has a direct correlation to what happens on the field, not just with us three but the whole team, the chemistry off the field obviously plays an important role."
Overall, the team chemistry has an influence on Privett and what he hopes to contribute to them in the postseason.
"I've got to work for my teammates. There is a lot more than just scoring goals," Privett said. "You have to work for your teammates, work back on defense to make sure we don't concede goals, and then also be the one to finish at the other end of the field but also create opportunities for other guys as well."
Privett and the Nittany Lions now shift focus to the postseason, starting with the Big Ten Tournament Quarterfinals on Sunday, Nov. 7 at Jeffrey Field against Michigan State.