Friday Night Lights for Men's Soccer Comes Against Mercyhurst
Mercyhurst at Penn State
1-2-1 | 0-0-0 B1G
0-1-2 | 0-0-0 NEC
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Penn State men's soccer gets some Friday night action under the lights this week when the team hosts Mercyhurst at home on Monday, September 5 at Jeffrey Field. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. on B1G+.
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. Alex Harkins and Dominick Pizzelanti will call the action live from the Jeffrey 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 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 dropped a 3-1 decision in the most recent outing to No. 23-ranked Missouri State.
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
The Nittany Lions are down a player on the roster this week after freshman Ben Nash received a call up from the Canadian u18 National Team. The defender appeared in the first three games for the Nittany Lions before taking the flight to Finland with the national squad.
The rookie trains with the team from August 30 through September 8. In the stretch, he will appear in a pair friendlies, first facing Finland on September 5 and Switzerland on September 7.
Nash is one of just two athletes called up to be listed on an NCAA Division I roster.
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 Missouri State
The Lake Front
Under the command of third-season head coach Austin Solomon, Mercyhurst boasts a 22-11-5 record. The Lakers, who moved up to Division I in 2024, are a member of the NEC conference. In their first season at Division I, Solomon directed his team to a 8-7-2 record including a 5-1-2 conference mark.
Embarking on their second season, the Lakers were picked to finish first in the preseason NEC poll. Benjamin Buckley wears a captain’s band and holds down the back line for the Lakers. Buckley was named to the NEC All-Conference Second Team in 2024 for his defensive abilities.
STORY OF THE SERIES
This meeting marks the first contest ever between Penn State and Mercyhurst.
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.