Men’s Soccer Returns Home to Face UCLA on Friday
Friday’s match will be the first meeting between the Nittany Lions and the Bruins since 2007
Penn State vs UCLA
4-5-1 | 1-2-1 B1G
4-3-3 | 1-2-1 Big Ten
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Penn State men’s soccer returns to Happy Valley for a two-match home stand, starting by hosting new Big Ten opponent UCLA on Friday, October 4 at 8 p.m. (ET). The match will be streamed on Big Ten Plus with Chris Machado 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. Due to a Bryce Jordan Center event, cash will not be accepted at the lots. After 5 p.m., fans will have to use the Honk App for a rate of $20.
Friday's contest will serve as the team's annual Wear White match, where fans are invited to wear white in support of the Nittany Lions. Themed ralley towels will be given away to the first 250 fans in attendance. The match will also be host to a Families4Families canned food drive. Fans are encouraged to donate canned goods and nonperishable items. For more information, click here.
LAST TIME OUT
Penn State battled to a 1-1 draw against No. 12 Maryland from Ludwig Field Tuesday evening. Caden Grabfelder scored the equalizer in the 62nd minute after Mohamed Cisset drew a foul from the Maryland 18. Grabfelder now has three goals on the season.
Goalkeeper Andrew Cooke made registered five saves in the draw.
Matthew Henderson was named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week for his match equalizing olimpico against St. John's last week. The Nittany Lions defeated the Red Storm, 2-1.
Penn State holds a record of 4-5-1 (1-2-1 B1G) and will enter Friday's match on a three match unbeaten streak.
2024 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.
Next Up: UCLA
SCOUTING THE BRUINS
UCLA enters Friday’s match 4-3-3 (1-2-1 B1G) coming off a 0-1 loss at home against Michigan State. The Bruins opened their season with seven of their first 11 matches coming against teams ranked in the top 25 at the of the game. UCLA has victories over LMU, Portland, Northwestern and Westmont. They tied James Madison, Denver and Michigan.
Starting in net for the Bruins is junior Sam Joseph. The keeper has recorded four clean sheets in six starts in 2024. Joseph is tied for 13th in the NCAA and first in the Big Ten with his four shutouts. The team ranks second in the Big Ten and tied for 19th in the NCAA in shoutout percentage, .500.
Edrey Caceres and Nikolai Rojel lead the Bruins with six points each. Philip Naef leads UCLA with three assists.
At the helm of UCLA is Ryan Jordan who is in his sixth season as head coach. Last season the Bruins finished 9-4-5 and won the Pac-12 title. The team reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
THE SERIES
Penn State has yet to beat UCLA. The Bruins have won all five of the contests dating back to 1995. In their first ever meeting, UCLA claimed victory 4-1. In 2002, the Nittany Lions and the Bruins met in the NCAA Tournament Regional Finals, where UCLA advanced to the Final Four and ultimately won the National Championship. The year after the Blue & White faced then-No. 1 UCLA in their season opener at Jeffrey Field where the Bruins won once again.
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.