Penn State men’s soccer hungry to capture first win over West Virginia
Albeit just two games, Penn State has yet to find the win column.
After opening their season with a draw with Rhode Island and a loss to Syracuse, the Nittany Lions have seen their No. 21 ranking disappear. The blue and white will have to get through No. 18 West Virginia if they want to fill the win column this weekend.
The Mountaineers opened the season ranked No. 6, but after just sneaking by Robert Morris due to an own goal and losing in shutout fashion to No. 7 Pittsburgh, they have fallen to No. 18.
Both teams have struggled on the offensive attack through their first two contests, and it may be easier for the Mountaineers to get back on track.
Despite scoring just one goal thus far, the Mountaineers have nine shots on goal, which bodes well since Penn State opponents have already put 16 shots on the net.
Led by Femi Awodesu, one of three Big Ten preseason players to watch on the Nittany Lions, the defense will need to tighten things up around Kris Shakes.
Shakes, the senior goalkeeper who has 14 career shutouts and a 29-9-2 career record, has stood strong with 14 saves on those 16 shots.
The Penn State defense and Shakes did not play up to par in the battle between these two squads a season ago. West Virginia won 3-1 in Morgantown as nine of their shots found their way to Shakes.
Ciro Bourlot Jaeggi, who led the Mountaineers with six goals last season and was an All-MAC Second Team selection, will look to bring back that same offensive attack from last season starting against the Nittany Lions.
While their opponents have had plenty of success in finding quality opportunities, the Nittany Lions’ opportunities have been few and far between.
The Nittany Lions have five shots on goal thus far, a big reason that they have seen just one goal on the scoreboard.
Sean Bettenhausen, the lone scorer for Penn State, is still seeking help from Peter Mangione and Seth Kuhn, two Big Ten preseason players to watch, among others.
Mangione, the former Big Ten Player of the Year and current MAC Hermann Trophy Watch List selection, has been held off the stat sheet following seven goals and four assists last season.
For Mangione to find the stat sheet on Friday, he will have to get through fellow MAC Hermann Trophy Watch List selection, Bjarne Thiesen. Thiesen is the leader of the blue and gold defense and after helping a shutout effort in their first contest, allowed three goals against Pittsburgh.
The Thiesen-led defense has allowed seven shots to reach goalkeeper Jackson Lee. The former George Mason Patriot was forced to make just one against Robert Morris, but more shots came from Pitt, and with them, Lee faltered.
With the struggling offenses, one goal could be all it takes to win this game, so Thiesen and company will need to limit the quality chances put on Lee.
Penn State will look to be all over any chances that come their way after 7 p.m. on Friday.
If the Nittany Lions can find some success on offense and Kris Stokes can stand tall in the net, they will find their record at 1-1-1.
Checking every column in their first three games is how the Nittany Lions started last season, a season in which they were Big Ten regular season and tournament champions and made their 35th NCAA tournament appearance.
Justin Ciavolella is a second-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email jtc5751@psu.edu.
