MATCH DAY: Penn State MSOC at Michigan

KICKOFF

The Nittany Lions are aiming for their first result in conference play when the team visits the Michigan Wolverines at 7 p.m. at the U-M Soccer Stadium on Friday night. The Nittany Lions are still chasing their first conference win under first-year head coach Rob Dow.

Penn State is coming off a hard-fought 2-1 loss against Ohio State this past Friday, dropping the overall record to 2-7-0 and its conference record to 0-5-0.

B1G THINGS

The Nittany Lions had three student-athletes tabbed as Big Ten Players to Watch. The group includes Daniel Peluffo-Wiese, Noah Förster, and Joe Buckley. 

Through two games, Förster made his impact immediate, dishing an assist on Penn State’s first goal under Coach Dow and earning his first career start in game two. 

Daniel Peluffo-Weise has totaled 28 saves through nine contests, averaging 3.11 per game.

OH CAPTAIN, MY CAPTAIN

Graduate Student Grant McIntosh and sophomore Joe Sheridan will serve as the captainship for Penn State in the 2026 season.

Sheridan was one of three PSU returners from last year’s squad, while McIntosh brings four years of college soccer experience to Happy Valley from Duquesne and Akron.

WOLVERINE ROUNDUP

Michigan is coached by Chaka Daley, who is entering his 15th season with the program and his 27th season as a coach. 

Daley served as head coach for the Providence Friars, his alma mater, before joining Michigan for the 2012 season. 

Through 15 years with Daley at the helm, the Wolverines have compiled a 119-99-54 (.537) overall record 

In the 2025 season, Michigan finished with an overall record of 12-4-4 and a conference record of 6-2-2. 

In their most recent matchup, Michigan lost, 2-1, against Portland. 

Senior Grayson Elmquist leads the Wolverines with four goals this season. 

The Wolverines roster includes one transfer and three international players. 

Michigan is leading the Big Ten and tied for the NCAA lead in penalty kicks.

STORY OF THE SERIES

This game marks the 34th meeting between the Nittany Lions and the Wolverines

Penn State leads the all-time series over Michigan with a record of 16-12-5. 

The result in last season’s matchup was a scoreless draw during the Blue & White’s final game of the year at Jeffrey Field. 

Penn State’s Jonathan Evans and Michigan’s Isaiah Goldson each recorded three saves in that contest.