Ohio State Athletic Communications
COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio State men’s soccer team fell, 4-2, at Penn State Tuesday night at Jeffrey Field in University Park, Pa. With the loss, the Buckeyes drop to 1-5 overall and 1-1- in Big Ten play, while the Nittany Lions improve to 3-2-1 overall and 1-0 in conference action. The Buckeyes struck the scoreboard twice in the second half, but couldn’t overcome a four-goal deficit at halftime. Senior backAustin Bergstrom and sophomore midfielder Abdi Mohamed each scored their first goals of the season. Connor Maloney led the offensive charge for the Nittany Lions with a goal and three assists.
PENN STATE STRIKES EARLY
The Nittany Lions wasted no time to claim the first goal of the match, scoring 47 seconds after the opening whistle. Connor Maloney sent a pass from the top of the box over to Mason Klerks, who finished with a netter inside the far post for the early 1-0 lead.
NITTNAY LIONS ADD THREE MORE
Penn State made it 2-0 in the 26th minute when a header by Klerks found the bottom of the net at 25:44. Maloney set up the scoring play when he connected with Klerks off a free kick from the far side of the field. The Nittany Lions then opened the game to a three-goal lead just two minutes later when Maloney scored on a penalty kick at 27:44. Penn State scored off a turnover in the 42nd minute when Aymar Sigue beat Parker Siegfried to the left for the fourth goal.
FIRST-HALF CHANCES
Ohio State held a 7-5 lead in the first half, including five on goal, but couldn’t find the back of the net. Senior forward Christian Soldatheaded a shot off the far post before his second shot attempt was saved by PSU goalkeeper Arie Ammann in the 24th minute. The best first-half chance for the Scarlet and Gray came six minutes later, but senior forward Yaw Amankwa’s penalty kick was saved by a diving stop from Ammann at 29:08. The Buckeyes earned three straight corners after the penalty, but each opportunity was cleared out by the Penn State defense. Sophomore midfielder Abdi Mohamed headed a shot on target, but was denied by Ammann in the 34th, who made five first-half saves. Ohio State held a 7-0 advantage in corners heading into halftime.
BERGSTROM, MOHAMED BURY SECOND-HALF GOALS
Ohio State continued to battle despite being down by the large deficit and scored twice to cut Penn State’s lead in half. Senior back Austin Bergstrom capitalized on a foul inside the box when he buried his penalty kick to cut the score to 4-1 at 65:16. The Buckeyes answered again when Mohamed struck a brilliant free kick from 25 yards out inside the near post at 67:46 to make it a 4-2 contest. The Buckeye defense held the Nittany Lions to two shots in the second half as Ohio State outshot Penn State, 12-7, and held an 8-1 lead in corners.
UP NEXT
Ohio State welcomes Rutgers at 2 p.m. ET Sunday at Bert L. & Iris S. Wolstein Field at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium.
MATCH NOTES
· Penn State improves to 18-13-4 all-time vs. the Buckeyes.
· Ohio State scored a season-high two goals vs. the Nittany Lions.
· The Buckeyes outshot the Nittany Lions, 12-7, while holding an 8-1 lead in corners.
· Mohamed registered his first goal of the season and fourth of his career, while Bergstrom tallied his first goal of the season and second of his career.
· Bergstrom made his 60th career appearance tonight, while Mohamed made his 25th career start.
#GoBucks
PENN STATE STRIKES EARLY
The Nittany Lions wasted no time to claim the first goal of the match, scoring 47 seconds after the opening whistle. Connor Maloney sent a pass from the top of the box over to Mason Klerks, who finished with a netter inside the far post for the early 1-0 lead.
NITTNAY LIONS ADD THREE MORE
Penn State made it 2-0 in the 26th minute when a header by Klerks found the bottom of the net at 25:44. Maloney set up the scoring play when he connected with Klerks off a free kick from the far side of the field. The Nittany Lions then opened the game to a three-goal lead just two minutes later when Maloney scored on a penalty kick at 27:44. Penn State scored off a turnover in the 42nd minute when Aymar Sigue beat Parker Siegfried to the left for the fourth goal.
FIRST-HALF CHANCES
Ohio State held a 7-5 lead in the first half, including five on goal, but couldn’t find the back of the net. Senior forward Christian Soldatheaded a shot off the far post before his second shot attempt was saved by PSU goalkeeper Arie Ammann in the 24th minute. The best first-half chance for the Scarlet and Gray came six minutes later, but senior forward Yaw Amankwa’s penalty kick was saved by a diving stop from Ammann at 29:08. The Buckeyes earned three straight corners after the penalty, but each opportunity was cleared out by the Penn State defense. Sophomore midfielder Abdi Mohamed headed a shot on target, but was denied by Ammann in the 34th, who made five first-half saves. Ohio State held a 7-0 advantage in corners heading into halftime.
BERGSTROM, MOHAMED BURY SECOND-HALF GOALS
Ohio State continued to battle despite being down by the large deficit and scored twice to cut Penn State’s lead in half. Senior back Austin Bergstrom capitalized on a foul inside the box when he buried his penalty kick to cut the score to 4-1 at 65:16. The Buckeyes answered again when Mohamed struck a brilliant free kick from 25 yards out inside the near post at 67:46 to make it a 4-2 contest. The Buckeye defense held the Nittany Lions to two shots in the second half as Ohio State outshot Penn State, 12-7, and held an 8-1 lead in corners.
UP NEXT
Ohio State welcomes Rutgers at 2 p.m. ET Sunday at Bert L. & Iris S. Wolstein Field at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium.
MATCH NOTES
· Penn State improves to 18-13-4 all-time vs. the Buckeyes.
· Ohio State scored a season-high two goals vs. the Nittany Lions.
· The Buckeyes outshot the Nittany Lions, 12-7, while holding an 8-1 lead in corners.
· Mohamed registered his first goal of the season and fourth of his career, while Bergstrom tallied his first goal of the season and second of his career.
· Bergstrom made his 60th career appearance tonight, while Mohamed made his 25th career start.
#GoBucks