Men’s Soccer to Face In-State Rival No. 3 Pitt Friday Evening
Friday’s match will serve as men’s soccer’s annual 800-strong match
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Penn State men’s soccer will renew their rivalry on Friday, hosting No. 3 Pittsburgh for a contested battle at Jeffrey Field. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. and the match will air live on B1G+.
FAN INFORMATION, PARKING & PROMOTIONS
With the start of construction projects benefitting all 800+ student-athletes at Penn State, notably the construction of the Jeffrey Field Soccer Complex at the south end of the facility, elements of the Jeffrey Field match day experience have changed. Due to construction, the grass area behind the south goal will not be accessible to spectators. Spectator entrances are located on either end of Jeffrey Field near the corner flags on the south side of the facility. For more spectator information, as well as a diagram of the facility, click here.
Spectator parking is located in the Stadium West lot, with entrance to the lot located at the intersection of Park Avenue and Stadium West Drive. ADA accessibility is still available on either side of the facility. Spectators wishing to access the University Drive seating area should park in the Stadium West lot closest to the Bryce Jordan Center and walk down the sidewalk to the main entrance on the University Drive side of the facility. To prepay for parking at a discounted rate, click here. Event day parking will be $10 at the main entrance to the lot.
Friday’s match will serve as the Nittany Lions’ annual 800-strong match, where Penn State student-athletes are encouraged to attend in mass. Each season, all 31 Penn State varsity athletic programs host one home event where all student-athletes are invited to attend and support their counterparts from across campus.
LAST TIME OUT
Penn State earned its first win of the season against Army, 2-1, on Sunday. Matthew Henderson and Caden Grabfelder led the offensive efforts, both notching points from olimpicos.
Goalkeeper Fredrick Grundin made his collegiate debut against Army making one save in the 90 minutes.
2024 SEASON PREVIEW
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: No. 3 Pitt
SCOUTING THE PANTHERS
Pitt comes into Friday’s match after two consecutive victories. The Panthers opened their 2024 campaign with an upset win over No. 16 Georgetown, 2-0. Sophomore forward Albert Thorsen and senior forward Luis Sahmkow each scored a goal in the win.
Later that week, Pitt defeated Mercyhurst, 2-0. Goals from Thorsen and Guilherme Feitosa pushed the Panthers past the Lakers.
In net for Pitt is junior Carter Cabral and freshman Jack Moxom, who both have clean sheets on the season. Cabral earned the start against the Hoyas where he faced seven shots and collected two saves. Moxom started against the Lakers, notching a save.
The Panthers’ success propelled them from being unranked to No. 3 in the United Soccer Coaches Poll and No. 10 on TopDrawer Soccer Poll.
Pitt is led by head coach Jay Vidovich who is in his ninth season with the program. Last season, the Panthers reached the NCAA Tournament for the fifth-straight year. The Panthers’ return 16 players from last year’s roster.
THE SERIES
Friday’s match will mark the 37th all-time meeting between the Panthers and the Nittany Lions. Penn State leads the all-time series 28-8-4. Last season, the two each earned a point at Ambrose Urbanic Field.
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.