EAST LANSING, Mich.- The No. 25 Penn State men's soccer team looks to add to its four-game win streak with a conference victory at No. 13 Michigan State on Sunday, Oct. 1. This is the Nittany Lions' most consecutive wins since 2021.
Penn State swept Big Ten weekly awards for the second time this season, earning six out of the 10 conference honors so far this season. Kris Shakes earns his third Defensive Player of the Week nod.
GAME INFORMATION
at Michigan State
- Date: Sunday, Oct. 1, 2023 | Time: 3 p.m. ET
- Location: East Lansing, Mich. | Venue: DeMartin Soccer Complex
- Live Stats | Watch: B1G+ | Notes
- Admission: Ticketed
LAST TIME OUT
- Penn State earned a come from behind 3-1 win against Howard on Wednesday using three second half goals.
- Ben Liscum scored the first goal of the surge on a set piece just outside the 18. His kick sailed over the Howard wall of defense into the top left corner of the net.
- Samson Kpardeh found the back of the goal next with his first collegiate goal. A punt from Kris Shakes led him into the Bison defensive half. Kpardeh beat his defender and sent the ball past the keeper to earn the game winning goal.
- Peter Mangione sealed the game with an insurance goal off a penalty kick with four seconds remaining in the game.
NITTANY LIONS IN THE RANKS
- Kris Shakes ranks ninth in the nation in save percentage (.850) and is tied for 13th in shutouts (4). He also leads the B1G in save percentage and ranks third in shutouts.
- Penn State sits atop the Big Ten standings and is the only team to own two conference victories.
- Peter Mangione ranks second in the conference in goals with four and is tied for first in game-winning goals with three.
SCOUTING THE SPARTANS
- Michigan State is off to a steady season with a 5-0-3 record. The Nittany Lions will be threatening the Spartans first loss.
- Redshirt-sophomore keeper Zac Kelly was named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week two weeks in a row (9/12 and 9/19).
- Sean Kerrigan leads the Spartans with three goals on the season.
PENN STATE – MICHIGAN STATE SERIES
- Penn State owns the lead in the all-time series dating back to 1991 with a 26-17-2 all-time record.
- This will only be the fourth time both the Nittany Lions and Spartans are ranked when facing each other. The first was on Oct. 20, 2013 when Michigan State was no. 14 and Penn State was no. 17. The second was Oct. 18, 2014 when the Spartans were no. 16 and the Nittany Lions were no. 12. The third time was later in 2014 during the Big Ten Tournament when Michigan State was no. 21 and Penn State was no. 23. The Nittany Lions are 1-2 in games when both teams are ranked and 1-1 in game where Michigan State is ranked higher.