UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Penn State men’s soccer will host Rutgers in a conference match up on Big Ten Network Monday evening. Kickoff is slated for 6 p.m. (ET) with Dean Linke and Patrick Doody 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. 

LAST TIME OUT

Penn State is on a four match unbeaten streak (2-0-2) after dropping two consecutive matches to start off Big Ten play. On Friday evening, the Nittany Lions shared points with UCLA in a 2-2 draw. Caden Grabfelder and Ben Madore accounted for the Blue & White's scoring efforts. 

Grabfelder now has four goals on the season and is second on the team with seven points. Madore scored his first career goal against the Bruins. 

Goalkeeper Andrew Cooke made his eighth start of the season. The graduate student recorded two saves in the match. Cooke has a record of 1-5-2 between the posts with the Nittany Lions. 

Penn State earned their first point against UCLA. Before Friday's match, the Nittany Lions were 0-5-0 against the Bruins. 

Men's soccer holds a record of 4-5-2 and 1-2-2 in the Big Ten. Penn State is tied for seventh in the Big Ten standings with UCLA with five points. 

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.