UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.- Penn State men's soccer advances to the Big Ten Championship after a double overtime, penalty shootout show at Jeffrey Field. The 1-1 draw after regulation sent the teams into two double overtime periods after which the score remained knotted. The Nittany Lions outscored the Buckeyes 4-3 in penalty shootouts to advance to the Championship.
Kris Shakes' save on the final attempt of the shootout sent the Nittany Lions to win 4-3. Goals from Peter Mangione, Femi Awodesu, Matthew Henderson and Ben Liscum during the shootout lifted Penn State to a spot in the conference championship on Sunday, Nov. 12 at noon.
Samson Kpardeh scored the game-tying goal off assists from Atem Kato and Kris Shakes during the first half of regulation.
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Half
A penalty kick was awarded to Ohio State in the early minutes of the game after a foul was called on Mohamed Cisset in the box. The Big Ten Midfielder of the Year in red, Laurence Wootton scored the first goal of the game in the 3rd minute.
Penn State continued to press throughout the first half but the Buckeyes managed two shots on the Nittany Lions before the blue and white could gain offensive momentum. What seemed like a routine laser of a throw from Shakes from the box after regaining control for Penn State, fed Kato the perfect ball. Kato headed it out to Kpardeh who dribbled through his defender and sent a perfect ball past the Buckeyes keeper.
Two chances for Penn State in the final minutes of the half from Mangione were saved by Pete Van Euwen of Ohio State.
The score after 45 minutes of play was knotted at 1-1.
Second Half
Despite neither team scoring a goal throughout the second period, the Nittany Lions outshot the Buckeyes 9-3.
Early shots from Caden Grabfelder and Kato were saved but the Nittany Lions were presented a set piece opportunity in the 55th minute with a foul just outside the box that was challenged with a video review. After ruling the foul occurred outside the box Mangione stepped to the ball and curled it to the corner of the net but Van Euwen made the initial save with the ball bouncing out to Kato who couldn't quite get a footing on it.
The Buckeyes keeper made three more saves off a of Penn State's relentless shooting to leave the scored tied at ones after regulation.
Overtime
Th best chance for the Nittany Lions in the first 10 minutes of overtime came from a Kpardeh breakaway. His end shot was saved yet again but the diving Buckeyes goalie.
A yellow card issued to an Ohio State defender set Penn State in an almost identical situation just outside the box for a free kick. This time Mangione passed the ball out to Henderson whose shot was blocked.
After two periods of overtime with no Ohio State shots, the score was still tied.
Penalty Shootout
The first penalty kick was taken by Mangione who easily found the back of the net but was matched by a Buckeyes' score.
Awodesu also did his job, scoring a penalty kick and Shakes on the other end made a stop between the pipes.
Freddie Bell was next up for Penn State but was stopped by the keeper. Ohio State made its proceeding kick to tie the score again.
Henderson sent the keeper diving the opposite direction to score the third for the Nittany Lions and the Buckeyes responded with one as well.
Ben Liscum scored the fourth for Penn State, leaving Shakes with an opportunity to make a game-winning save. The Goalkeeper of the Year read the Buckeyes shooter and dove to save the ball and slid to an electric celebration with his teammates.
The final score was 1-1 with Penn State advancing 4-3 after the penalty shootout.
OF NOTE
- Penn State advances to the Big Ten Tournament Championship for the 12th time in program history since joining the conference in 1991.
- This was the seventh shootout the Nittany Lions have partaken in in the Big Ten Tournament and ninth in their history.
- This was the first penalty shootout for Penn State since the Big Ten Tournament Championship in 2020-21.
- The Nittany Lions will face the team they share the regular season title with, Indiana.
- Penn State outshot Ohio State 14-7 overall and 10-3 in shots on goal.
- Kpardeh notched his second collegiate goal and Shakes earned his second assist of the season.
UP NEXT
The Nittany Lions will head to Bloomington to take on Indiana on Sunday, Nov. 12 in the Big Ten Tournament Championship. Kickoff is set for noon on the Big Ten Network.