Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
Penn State
Penn State Hands Wildcats First Loss of the Season
9/29/2007 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Sept. 29, 2007
Box Score
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -
Northwestern had allowed just two goals in its first eight men's soccer matches of the season, but Penn State matched that total itself Saturday evening as the Nittany Lions handed the third-ranked Wildcats their first loss of the season, 2-1 at Jeffrey Field.
The loss dropped NU's record to 7-1-1 overall and 1-1 in the Big Ten.
Penn State (4-4, 1-0-1) got on the board first with just under six minutes remaining in the opening half. The Nittany Lions' initial chip into the box was punched away, but Grady Renfrow was able to gather the rebound and put it away with Wildcat goalkeeper Misha Rosenthal out of the net to give Penn State the lead.
The tally ended NU's streak of holding its opponents scoreless at an impressive 536 minutes and 25 seconds and was the team's first goal allowed in six matches.
Northwestern threatened right back, though, as a minute and a half later Chris Kammo appeared primed to volley home a cross from Mark Blades. However, defender Andy Mackey and keeper Conrad Taylor teamed up to wipe the ball away just before it crossed the goalline.
The Wildcats kept the pressure on after the near miss as with four minutes to go, Taylor was able to knock away NU's cross and then make a sliding save on David Roth's ensuing shot.
Penn State finished with a 10-4 advantage in shots in the first half, though all four of Northwestern's shots were on goal.
The Wildcats came out the aggressors in the second half, creating numerous quality scoring chances and it finally paid off at the 57:43 mark. Roth's cross from the left flank into the box was deflected by Taylor, setting up a mad scramble. Piero Bellizzi was able to come up with the ball and feed it to Tyler Voigt who deposited his second goal of the season into the net to tie the match.
Penn State was able to answer back a little over eight minutes later as it notched the game-winning goal. Vincent Salvatico found himself all alone near the top of the box and scored from 15 yards out to put the Nittany Lions ahead 2-1.
Northwestern's best chance to tie the score came with 13 minutes left as Roth sent a perfect cross into the box for Drew Pavlovich who sent a header on goal, but Taylor was right there to make the save. The Wildcats kept the pressure on the rest of the way, but was unable to come up with the tying goal.
Penn State finished with a 17-11 advantage in shots, though the Wildcats had eight shots on goal compared to six for the Nittany Lions. PSU had 21 fouls to just six for Northwestern.
The Wildcats return to action at 3 p.m. Saturday when they host Wisconsin at Lakeside Field in a match that will be televised by the Big Ten Network.
