ROSEMONT, Ill.- Penn State men's soccer earns four out of six Big Ten major postseason awards as announced by the conference ahead of the quarterfinal round of the Big Ten Tournament on Friday. Peter Mangione headlines, earning his second Offensive Player of the Year title in his four seasons at Penn State. Femi Awodesu is named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, Kris Shakes earns Goalkeeper of the Year and Jeff Cook garners Coach of the Year for the second time as well.
Mangione, Awodesu and Shakes also earn a spot on first team All-Big Ten. Caden Grabfelder is named to All-Freshman team for his standout rookie campaign. Sam Ovesen, a sophomore defender, claims Penn State's Sportsmanship Award.
The trio of Nittany Lions to earn postseason awards from the conference are a part of a core group of upperclassmen for Penn State men's soccer. Mangione and Awodesu are senior co-captains and Shakes returned to Happy Valley for his fifth season of eligibility this year.
The senior forward is no stranger to Big Ten awards this season and throughout his career in the blue and white. During the 2023 campaign, he was named the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week twice, once on Sept. 26 after his unassisted goal in 1-0 shutout against Maryland and his assist in a 2-0 shutout at UNCG. Mangione also earned the nod again on Oct. 24 after a goal against Rutgers and another on Senior Day in a dominant 4-0 win over Michigan.
The Maryland native leads the Big Ten in goals with nine which is the sixth highest scored in the nation. His five game-winning goals also leads the conference and ties him for fifth in the country. The two-time captain has captured two Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year Awards in the last three years.
Awodesu has emerged as a leader for the team and has been a strong force on the back line for the last four years. He earned second team All-Big Ten and third team All-North Region last season. The defender out of Philadelphia was named a Preseason Player to Watch ahead of the 2023 campaign. The senior defender has anchored the defense and contributed to seven shutouts this year.
In recent matches, the co-captain has shifted up the field to take on an attacking role. This switch has allowed him to score three goals just this season and total six in his career.
Shakes earned a starting spot between the pipes during his freshman season and never conceded the position, starting in 70 games throughout his five seasons. The Florida native owns the most Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week titles this season, garnering the honor three times. Totaling 260 saves in five seasons, Shakes moved into the third spot all-time at Penn State in career saves earlier this season. His seven shutouts in goal ranks him first in the conference and eighth in the country.
He has earned several Big Ten accolades in his time in Happy valley including earning a spot on the All-Freshman team in 2019 and second team All-Big Ten in 2022.
Head coach Jeff Cook is named the Big Ten Coach of the Year for the second time in three years. He led the team to its second Regular Season title in his six years at Penn State. Coach Cook earned his 50th win in Happy Valley as head of the Penn State men's soccer team against Maryland on Sept. 19 this season.
Grabfelder has proved to be a key component to the Nittany Lions midfield this season, playing in 15 games and starting in 13. He has scored three goals including the lone Penn State goal against no. 1 at the time Syracuse.
