Penn State at #1 Clemson
2023 Record | 10-5-4 | 5-3-3 B1G
2023 Record | 15-3-5 | 4-2-2 ACC
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Penn State men’s soccer kicks off its 113rd campaign for the 2024 season on Thursday, August 22, as the Nittany Lions travel to Clemson for a nationally televised matchup from Historic Riggs Field. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. (ET), with the match set to air to a national audience via ACC Network.
MATCH INFORMATION
Date: Thursday, Aug. 22, 2024 | Time: 7 p.m. (ET)
Location: Clemson, S.C. | Venue: Historic Riggs Field
Live Stats | Watch on ACC Network
Admission: Ticketed
Head Coach Jeff Cook returns at the helm of the Penn State men's soccer program for his seventh season. The two-time Big Ten Coach of the Year will aim to return to the conference tournament finals for the fourth time in his PSU career after earning a share of the Big Ten Regular Season Title in 2023.
Assistant Coaches Clint Long (fifth season), Sean Lawlor (second season) and Oscar Umar (second season) also return to Happy Valley to help Cook make another post season run.
Penn State was picked to finish second in the Big Ten Preseason Coaches Poll behind Indiana. Last season the Nittany Lions finished 10-5-4 after falling to the Hoosiers in the Big Ten Tournament Finals.
The Nittany Lions begin 2024 with five openings from last year's starting XI.
The departure of Pete Mangione up front will be vital. The forward accounted for nearly 25 percent of the Blue & White's scoring last season.
Additionally, the exit of goalkeeper Kris Shakes and defender Femi Awodesu will be felt. The duo were a part of a backline that kept opponents to .79 goals per match and seven shutouts.
Penn State returns 14 letterwinners from last season, including Big Ten All-Freshmen honoree Caden Grabfelder. The sophomore is the team's second leading goal scorer from last season behind Mangione.
The Nittany Lions also welcome 12 newcomers to the squad with six freshmen, five graduate transfers and one junior transfer.
THE B1G THREE
Mohamed Cisset, Matthew Henderson and Grabfelder were all selected as Big Ten Players to Watch this preseason. The trio will look to bring their momentum from last season to 2024.
Cisset returns to Happy Valley after an eventful offseason. The defender was called up to the Malian U23 team and made the 2024 Mali Olympic roster. At the conclusion of the 2023 season, Cisset was landed as No. 74 on Top Drawer Soccer’s Post Season Top 100 Freshmen.
Larkhall, Scotland native, Henderson had a standout sophomore season as a member of a Nittany Lion backline that contributed to seven shutouts and held opponents to .79 goals per match.
Grabfelder comes back for his second season in the Blue and White. The Northampton, Pennsylvania, native had a dominant rookie season as the top returning point scorer on the 2024 roster with three goals and three assists. Grabfelder was ranked No. 14 on Top Drawer Soccer’s Post Season Top 100 Freshmen.
AYE, AYE CAPTAIN
Redshirt-junior Ben Liscum and junior Henderson were voted as co-captains this preseason by their teammates and coaching staff.
Liscum appeared in all 19 matches last season, dishing out a goal and an assist.
Henderson started all 19 matches last season, registering a goal and five assists. The defender is the team's returning assist leader.
Next Up: #1 Clemson
SCOUTING THE TIGERS
Clemson will be entering Thursday's match off of a historic 2023 season. The Tigers earned their fourth National Championship title and finished 14-3-5 last season.
Top-ranked Clemson were tabbed to win the ACC by the league's head coaches and were also picked to win the Atlantic Division by the conference's coaches.
Clemson returns All-ACC players Joran Gerbet and Nathan Richmond, as well as All-ACC Tournament player
Alex Meinhard and All-NCAA Tournament goalkeeper Joseph Andema.
A new addition to the Tigers roster is 2023 Gatorade National Player of the Year, Ransford Gyan.
Head Coach Mike Noonan leads the Tigers in his 15th season with the program. Noonan boasts a 392-198-82 career head
coaching record and is currently No. 5 in career wins amongst
active DI coaches.
THE SERIES
Penn State and Clemson have only matched up once nearly 25 years ago. The Nittany Lions were victorious over the Tigers winning 3-2.
Follow the Nittany Lions
Visit GoPSUSports.com for more information on Penn State men’s soccer. Fans can keep up to date with the Nittany Lion men’s soccer team on X and Instagram @PennStateMSOC, in addition to the team’s Facebook page at /PSUMensSoccer.