SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – The Penn State men’s soccer program took its first loss of the 2026 season in a 3-1 decision against the Missouri State Bears at Betty & Bobby Allison South Stadium.
PSU dropped to 1-1 in the 2026 campaign, while Missouri State improved to 2-0 overall. Senior midfielder Luca Sowinski was responsible for the goal and was assisted by senior forward Amadou Kone.
HOW IT HAPPENED
FIRST HALF
Penn State took the early momentum for a second straight match, earning the first free kick of the match less than two minutes into the match. The long service from graduate student Grant McIntosh found a pair of Nittany Lion head before the Bear’s netminder tallied his first save of the match on a slow bouncer. Following the save, Missouri State began to settle into the match, earning a pair of offensive possessions. The first resulted in a goal kick, but the second took an off bounce in the box, forcing sophomore Joe Sheridan to clear the ball beyond his own endline, giving the Bears the first corner kick of the match. The service came long and was sent well outside the net on a volley for a PSU goal kick.
The Nittany Lions were first on the boards in the contest, scoring in the 18th minute. Senior Luca Sowinski, who came off the bench in the contest after starting the season opener, immediate cashed in. The Carlsbad, California native stole a loose ball in the Bear’s defensive third and played a streaking Amadou Kone into the 18-yard box. Kone looked to goal, but his overhead shot was saved. Sowinski stayed with the play and buried the deflection into the back of the open net with the home team’s netminder recovering from the initial shot.
The home team found a late equalizer on a goal line cross the met the foot of an attacking Mo State player at the back post, leveling the match at one just over two minutes from the halftime whistle.
SECOND HALF
Missouri State had a corner kick awarded in the first minute of the second frame, which the Bears capitalized on to take the lead.
The 51st minute saw Daniel Peluffo-Wiese come to the top of his box, looking to make a play on the ball. The home team attacker played the ball just out of the PSU netminder’s reach and took a dive over the outstretched body of the Miami, Florida native to draw a penalty kick. Head coach Rob Dow challenged to call, but the on-field decision stood, and the Bears converted to take a 3-1 lead.
Freshman Joe Buckley, who earned a yellow in the first half for time wasting, was sent off after a hard tackle garnered him his second yellow in the 56th minute. The Nittany Lions, down two scores, were forced to play with 10 men the remainder of the match.
A rough and late tackle from freshman midfielder Nehan Hasan earned him a yellow card in the 70th minute in front of the Penn State bench. The call was questioned by Nittany Lion head coach Rob Dow, who was immediately issued a red card and ejected from the match.
The Nittany Lions, who remained down a man, were forced to play more defensively to close out the game. The holding position kept Mo State off the boards for any further tallies.
OF NOTE
- Penn State mustered its most corner kicks in a match since at least the 2009 season, booking 16 against Mercyhurst in the season opener.
- Senior midfielder Luca Sowinski scored his first collegiate goal with the 18th minute tally.
- Senior forward Amadou Kone added his third collegiate point in the contest, earning an assist on the Sowinski goal. The helper was the first of Kone’s career.
- Kone and junior defender Noah Förster each made their first collegiate starts.
- Coach Dow and Joe Buckley will be unavailable for the next Penn State match due to their ejections.
UP NEXT
Penn State men’s soccer is back home in University Park, Pennsylvania, this week to face a familiar instate rival in Pittsburgh on Friday, August 28. Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m. (ET) at Jeffrey Field, with streaming available on B1G+ and the Big Ten Plus app.
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.