First Road Trip of 2025 Comes At Army for Men's Soccer
Penn State at Army West Point
1-0-0 | 0-0-0 B1G
0-1-0 | 0-0-0 Patriot
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Penn State men's soccer hits the road for the first time in 2025 for a Sunday evening matchup on August 24, as the Nittany Lions take the pitch against Army West Point fot the 47th meeting all-time. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. on ESPN+.
Follow the Action
For fans of the Nittany Lions unable to attend the contest on the Hudson, the game will stream live to a worldwide audience of authenticated subscribers via ESPN+ and the ESPN app. Nikolai Busko will call the action live from the Malek Stadium at Clinton Field press box. Click the link here to be redirected to the live stream of the broadcast and sign in with credentials for access. Live stats provided by the Army West Point and Sidearm Sports are available here.
KICKIN’ IT
Penn State men’s soccer looks to return to the Big Ten Tournament this year after a falter in the 2024 season, and earn an NCAA Tournament bid for the first time since the 2021 season.
The journey began in the win column when the Nittany Lions bested Stetson on home turf, 2-0. The trek continues when the team travels to West Point, N.Y. to take on Army at Malek Stadium at Clinton Field.
Malick Daouda, Caden Grabfelder, and Kai Phillip were each named Big Ten Players to Watch in the preseason. Daouda returns to the pitch this year after an All-Big Ten Freshman campaign in 2024. Grabfelder is the Nittany Lions top returning scorer and is expected to have a big season on the score sheet. Phillip comes to Happy Valley after three seasons with the University of Evansville, where the forward totaled 15 goals, including five game-winners and five assists. He guided his team to a 2024 NCAA Tournament appearance after winning the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament and was selected as the tournament MVP. In 2023, he was honored by the United Soccer Coaches with All-Region honors.
WHAT WE GOT BACK
Penn State returns 75% of its goal scoring from last year, including two of its top three scorers in junor Caden Grabfelder and senior Matthew Hederson. The Blue & White also welcomes back 73% of its overall scoring, with returning assist leader Christian Dionne tallying four in the last campaign.
AGAINST THE ACADEMIES
Despite trailing in the all-time series against Army, Penn State owns a combined 56-41-7 record against the service academies (Air Force, Army, Navy)
Penn State has only faced off against Air Force twice, accumulating a 1-0-1 record, while also boasting a 36-20-1 record over the Midshipmen.
Scouting Stetson
Knight Knight
Under the command of fifth-season head coach Brian Plotkin, Army has posted a 23-32-14 record.
The Black Knights opened 2025 with a narrow loss to Fairfield, 2-1. The two foes entered halftime level at one before a goal in the 51st minute carried the visiting Stags to victory.
Army returns all but one member of the 2024 regular starting lineup, as well as 2024 team captain Jack Meyer.
Defensively, Stetson will bring back the 2024 ASUN Goalkeeper of the Year in Nicolo Radaelli. Radaelli earned three shutouts last year, and clocked 49 saves in 15 games.
STORY OF THE SERIES
Army boasts a 22-19-5 edge over Penn State in the all-time series, which dates back to 1965.
Though the Black Knights lead the all-time series, PSU has won the last five meetings.
The two northeast foes faced off as recently as last season, when the Blue and White snagged a 2-1 home win on Jeffrey Field over the Black Knights.
Despite being down 1-0 at the break, second half heroics from Matthew Henderson and Caden Grabfelder led to a Nittany Lion win.
In the game, Fredrick Grundin made his first career appearance, tallying one save in the contest.
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 /PennStateMensSoccer.