Men’s Soccer to Take on Michigan State Friday Evening
Pink and black t-shirts will be given away to students in attendance
Penn State vs Michigan State
2-5-0 | 0-2-0 B1G
2-3-2 | 1-0-0 B1G
University Park, Pa. – Penn State men’s soccer will look to bounce back on Friday, September 20 as they take on Michigan State at 7 p.m. (ET). The match will be streamed on B1G+ with Owen Cameros and Ben Hoyt on the call.
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 men’s soccer’s annual THON/Youth Soccer Night. Autographs with the team will be offered after the match. The team will also be wearing their throwback jerseys for the first time this season. There will be a pink and black t-shirt giveaway for Penn State students while supplies last.
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 Caden 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 Matthew 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: Michigan State
SCOUTING THE SPARTANS
Michigan State is 2-3-2 overall and 1-0 in the Big Ten. In the Spartans first conference match on Friday, they defeated Big Ten newcomer Washington, 1-0.
Leading Michigan State offensively is junior midfielder Jonathan Stout who has five points on the season (2 G, 1 A).
In net for the Spartans is redshirt junior Zac Kelly. The goalkeeper has 20 saves and allowed eight goals in 2024.
At the helm of the program is veteran head coach Damon Rensing who is in his 16th season with the Spartans after serving as an assistant coach for 10 seasons. During his tenure, Rensing has collected an overall record of 143-105-44.
Last season, Michigan State finished 7-2-7. The team lost in the quarterfinals of the Big Ten Tournament to Ohio State, 0-1.
THE SERIES
Penn State leads the all-time series 26-17-3. Last season the Nittany Lions and the Spartans ended in a scoreless draw.
The last time the two teams met in Happy Valley, the Blue & White came away with the victory, 4-1, in 2022.
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.