MSOC: Penn State Soccer Blanks Wright State on Senior Day

Story posted October 25, 2016 in CommRadio, Sports by Madeleine Balestrier

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Penn State Nittany Lions (7-6-2, 4-3-0 Big Ten) welcomed the Wright State Raiders (9-4-2, 5-1-1 Horizon) to Jeffrey Field for their home finale and Senior Day on Tuesday night. Penn State seniors passed the torch to freshman Pierre Reedy and company with a 1-0 victory over the Raiders.

“Big bright future for the team ahead,” Penn State’s head coach Bob Warming said. “We are going to miss the heck out of these seniors, but when you look at the youth on this team there is a lot to be hopeful for.”

Although Penn State and Wright State only faced-off in 1988, Penn State hoped to continue their winning ways against their rare opponents.

The Nittany Lions and Raiders provided fans with a back and forth offensive and defensive showing throughout the first half. Although with similar opportunities transitioning through the midfielders, the Nittany Lions found more success in their scoring third with 12 shots and a goal, while the Raiders remained scoreless with only six shots.

The chemistry between Penn State’s midfield and their forwards shined bright against Wright State, especially when senior forward, Connor Maloney, connected with freshman midfielder, Pierre Reedy, in the seventh minute for Penn State’s go ahead goal.

While Reedy put the Blue and White on the scoreboard, he also cemented his career goal for the Nittany Lions with a sailing 19-yard shot in the lower left corner.

“It felt good,” Reedy said. “It was a long time coming, so to finally get one was a good break for me.”

With a stagnant second half from both teams, Reedy’s early goal pushed Penn State to victory.

The Raiders grew increasingly frustrated with Penn State’s possession and their inability to find the net. Late into the match Luke Treadway, a Raider forward, committed a blatant and dangerous foul on Penn State’s goalie, Evan Finney. Treadway slid into Finney, while the goalie cradled the ball on the ground.

“It kind of scared me since that’s how I was injured the first part of the year,” Finney said. “If it was my face then it would probably not look this good right now.”

Although Penn State dominated the entirety of the game, their possession overshadowed their decline of offensive output and ball direction towards the net; the second half only gave way to one lone shot on net.

While the Nittany Lions only secured a 1-0 victory heading into a crucial Big Ten showdown, the players, staff and fans reflected on the season at Jeffrey Field and properly said goodbye to the seniors hoping to make the season as long as possible.

“Hopefully we can keep playing here the rest of Big Ten Tournament and hopefully we get into the NCAA tournament,” Maloney said. “Its been the best three and a half years and I will never forget it.”

The Penn State Nittany Lions hit the road this Sunday at 1:30 p.m. against the Northwestern Wildcats for their regular season finale. 

 

Madeleine Balestrier is a sophomore majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact her, email mrb5883@psu.edu.