UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Penn State men’s soccer will host Wisconsin for their final regular season home match on Saturday, October 26 at 7 p.m. (ET). The match will be streamed live on Big Ten Plus.

The men’s soccer program will celebrate the contributions of former head coach Herb Schmidt with a halftime ceremony. The program will also recognize graduating seniors Sean Bettenhausen, Van Danielson, Ben Liscum and Atem Kato.

ABOUT HERB SCHMIDT

Herb Schmidt enjoyed a historic career as a student-athlete at Rutgers University from 1959-61, when he was a soccer and lacrosse All-American. He earned the prestigious award twice in both sports. Schmidt served active duty in the U.S. Army from June 1965 to March 1967. He was a second lieutenant, promoted to first, then to captain in the Army Infantry. From Sept. 1967 – Aug. 1968, he served as the lacrosse and soccer head coach at Lafayette College before arriving to Happy Valley.

Schmidt’s was the head coach of Penn State men’s soccer until 1974 until he moved into athletic administration. Over the course of his tenure as head coach, Schmidt compiled a 38-21-8 record and took the team to four NCAA post-season tournaments, including a run to the quarterfinals in 1973. Schmidt became the associate athletic director in 1986 and held that position until his retirement in 2006.

The Athletics department started construction on a new soccer facility at Jeffrey Field. The new head coach’s offices will be named in honor of Herb Schmidt thanks to the generosity of René and Tim Unger. A 1976 Penn State graduate and member of the varsity soccer team, Tim and his family have maintained a forty-eight-year friendship with Herb and his wife, Dottie. 

COACH COOK ON THE WEEKEND

“We are looking forward with great excitement for the opportunity to honor our former head coach Herb Schmidt. It is a pleasure for us to celebrate Herb’s contributions to our men's soccer program as well as the impact he made on Nittany Lion athletics throughout his tenure as an administrator - culminating in his role as an associate athletic director prior to his retirement in 2006.”

“Herb has been a great friend to me since my arrival in 2018. He has been around our team, served as a mentor and has been a positive influence on all of us as he was for the many alumni he impacted during his tenure as our head coach. We are grateful to Tim and Renee younger for their generous commitment which will allow us to name head men's soccer coach's office in the new facility in honor of Herb; a fitting tribute to a legendary figure at Penn State.”

“Finally, this weekend we will also celebrate our seniors in a postgame ceremony after the Wisconsin match. I feel that it is a perfect tribute and connection to continue to build the bridge between our current team and the players that have come before us that led such a foundation of a tradition success in representing Penn State in a positive light. This will be a very special weekend for Penn State men’s soccer.”

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.  Due to a Bryce Jordan Center event, spectators should expect the Stadium West lot to be full between 4:00-5:30 p.m. Spectators are strongly encouraged to purchase parking in advance and arrive to Saturday’s match between 6:00-7:00 p.m. to avoid traffic. Parking cost will be $20 until 4:30 p.m. and then will change over to $10 for the soccer match.

Saturday's match will serve as men’s soccer Senior Night. Sean Bettenhausen, Van Danielson, Ben Liscum and Atem Kato will be recognized in a post-match ceremony with their families. The team will also recognize their Team Impact kid for the last two years, Levi Hanis.

LAST TIME OUT

Penn State dropped their second straight conference match against Washington last Friday, 3-1 in Seattle. Aboubacar Camara scored the lone goal for the Nittany Lions to bring his season goal total to five.

The Blue & White have an overall record of 5-7-2 and are 2-4-2 in the Big Ten. Penn State currently ranks seventh in the Big Ten with eight points and two matches remaining. The top seven teams will advance to the Big Ten tournament Nov. 7 through Nov. 17.

Additionally, freshman Malick Daouda was named to Top Drawer Soccer's Midseason Top 100 Freshmen list. The Montreal native was ranked No. 16. 

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 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.