Men’s Soccer Battles No. 21 Washington, Falls 2-1 in Penultimate Regular Season Home ContestMen’s Soccer Battles No. 21 Washington, Falls 2-1 in Penultimate Regular Season Home Contest
Steven Walter

Men’s Soccer Battles No. 21 Washington, Falls 2-1 in Penultimate Regular Season Home Contest

Graduate student Ben Liscum scored on a penalty kick to prevent a shutout

Box Score

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Penn State men’s soccer fought for 90 minutes on Monday evening but came up short against No. 21 Washington, 2-1, on Jeffrey Field in University Park, Pennsylvania. Redshirt-freshman Jonathan Evans had eight stops in the contest, while Ben Liscum was the difference for the Nittany Lions on the scoresheet, putting away a penalty kick in the 76th minute.

Penn State falls to 5-6-3 (1-4-2 B1G) with the result, while the Huskies improve to 9-3-2 (6-1-0 B1G).

 

HOW IT HAPPENED

First half

The first frame opened with back-and-forth play as both teams eased into the contest, but PSU was unable to get the ball on frame as Washington’s goalkeeper close the first frame with no saves.

The Huskies’ third attempt on goal came in the 23rd minute when a review on a tackle by freshman Davy Leavey was determined to have happened inside the penalty box. Washington was awarded the PK, but Evans came up big, making the stop to keep the game level. The deflection gave the Huskies a second attempt on goal, but a defensive effort by Malick Daouda kept the visitors at bay.

The penalty kick sparked the Washington offense even without the score. The Huskies broke the draw in the 26th minute on a strike from the top of the PSU 18-yard box.

Washington tacked on another in the 34th minute on a defensive collapse by PSU to take a 2-0 lead headed into the break.

 

Second half

The game began heating up in the 65th minute with the first caution being awarded to Washington. The Huskies earned a second warning less than a minute later.

Freshman Joe Sheridan drew a yellow in the 68th as he made a tackle just outside the Blue and White’s 18-yard box without getting the ball. The PSU wall made the stop on the ensuing free kick to keep the difference at two.

The 86th minute saw PSU awarded a penalty kick after a shot from Christian Dionne hit the hand of a Washington defender inside the box. Liscum was called on to take the boot and put away the goal to make it a one-score game.

The Huskies were content to bleed as much clock as possible after the score, slowing down their build ups and dribbling to corners when space permitted. A final caution to Washington came in the 87th minute on a hard tackle, but the Nittany Lions were unable to get any more shots on frame as time expired.

 

OF NOTE

  • Evans’s eight stops mark a career high for the netminder.
  • Liscum’s goal sours a four-game shutout streak by the Huskies.

 

UP NEXT

The Nittany Lions embark on the final road swing of the 2025 regular season, taking a trip to Madison, Wisconsin, to face off against the Badgers. Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. on Saturday, October 25. Action will be streamed live on B1G+.