Men's Soccer Celebrates Mack Brady Match on Alumni Weekend Against No. 5 Hoosiers
Indiana at Penn State
2-3-1 | 0-1-0 B1G
5-1-1 | 0-1-0 B1G
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Penn State men's soccer gets its first home conference action when the team hosts Indiana on Friday, September 19 for the Mack Brady Match on Alumni Weekend at Jeffrey Field. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. on B1G+.
Friday's contest marks the 13th annual Mack Brady Match in honor of youth goalkeeper Mack Brady whose dream was to play for Penn State and the U.S. Men's National Team. The Nittany Lions have played valiently in honor of Brady, holding an 8-2-2 record in the memorial matches, including a undefeated stretch from 2018 to 2023. For more information about the Mack Brady Fund, click here.
In addition to the annual memorial match, Penn State will also host over 30 alumni this weekend who will be commemorated at the contest.
Follow the Action
For fans of the Nittany Lions unable to attend the contest at Jeffrey Field, the game will stream live to a worldwide audience of authenticated subscribers via B1G+ and the B1G+ app. Owen Cameros and Dom Pizzelanti will call the action live from the Jeffrey Field press box, with sideline analyst Bronwyn Liber providing additional insight. 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 Penn State and StatBroadcast 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 Blue and White dipped back under a .500 record after a narrow road loss to Rutgers in the season’s conference opener
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.
O CANADA
After appearing in the first three games of the season, Nittany Lion freshman Ben Nash received a call up from the Canadian u18 National Team. The defender missed a pair of home matches while over in Finland with the national squad.
The rookie trained with the team from August 30 through September 8. In the stretch, he appeared in a pair friendlies, first facing Finland on September 5 and then Switzerland on September 7.
Nash is one of just two athletes called up to be on an NCAA Division I roster.
He made a start for the national squad in the match against Switzerland.
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.
Scouting Indiana
Hoos on First
Under the watch of 16-year head coach Todd Yeagley, Indiana has a 209-71-2 record.
The Hoosiers hold a 5-1-1 record so far this season, with the only loss coming in last week’s outing against the newly No. 8-ranked Michigan Wolverines.
Friday’s contest marks Indiana’s second away game of the season, with the other coming from a trip to South Bend where the Hoosiers defeated Notre Dame, 1-0.
The Hoosiers were voted #1 in the Big Ten Preseason Poll.
The Hoosiers concede the least amount of fouls per game in the Big Ten, averaging just 9.43.
Goalkeeper Holden Brown is tied for the most shutouts in the Big Ten with 3 so far this season.
Indiana was the Big Ten Reguar Season Champion in 2024 and are currently ranked No. 5 in the United Soccer Coaches Poll.
STORY OF THE SERIES
This game marks the 61st meeting all-time between the two schools, and Indiana boasts a 40-15-15 record against the Nittany Lions.
Indiana has won each of the last 5 meetings between the two conference foes.
The Nittany Lions last beat Indiana in 2021, winning convincingly in the Big Ten Conference Championship Game, 3-0.
The Nittany Lions and Hoosiers have been consistent rivals in the postseason, with the teams crossing pathes in the 2020-21, 2021, 2022, and 2023 Big Ten Tournaments.
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.