Northwestern University Athletics
Friday, October 17
University Park, Pa.
6 p.m. CT
Northwestern
at
Penn State
Photo by: Henry Frieman/Northwestern Athletics
Northwestern Opens Crucial Road Swing Friday At Penn State
10/16/2025 2:45:00 PM | Men's Soccer
‘Cats, Nittany Lions currently tied in Big Ten Conference standings
EVANSTON, Ill. (October 16, 2025) – Coming off an unbeaten week at home, Northwestern men's soccer (6-4-2, 1-3-1 B1G) begins a pivotal two-game Big Ten Conference road trip on Friday evening, venturing east to University Park, Pa. to take on Penn State. Kickoff from Jeffrey Field is slated for 6 p.m. CT.
LAST TIME OUT
Northwestern played to a scoreless draw with Michigan State this past Saturday to wrap up a three-game homestand at Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium.
The Wildcat defensive unit continued its rock-solid play of late, holding the Spartans without a shot on goal en route to a second shutout in as many games. Since allowing a 22nd-minute goal against Washington on September 29, Northwestern has held its opponents scoreless for 248 consecutive minutes of game action.
For his efforts last week, Andrew Johnson was named the Big Ten Conference's Freshman of the Week on Tuesday. Johnson put in back-to-back 90-minute shifts as Northwestern limited Evansville and Michigan State to a combined one shot on target.
SCOUTING PENN STATE
Coming off a 2-0 loss on the road at UCLA last Friday, Penn State (5-5-2) returns home sitting level with Northwestern in the conference standings with a 1-3-1 ledger in league action. The setback on the West Coast snapped a four-game unbeaten run for the Nittany Lions that included a heart-stopping 2-2 draw with No. 23 Maryland and a 2-1 win over Michigan State.
Like Northwestern, Penn State has been a tough out at home this season, going 4-2-1 (.643) across seven games at Jeffrey Field.
The pairing of Van Danielson and Ben Madore spearhead the attack for head coach Jeff Cook, with both members of the duo boasting four goals to their name this season. Madore found the back of the net against the Terrapins, while Danielson scored in the Nittany Lions' win over the Spartans. Caden Grabfelder, who was selected 50th overall by CF Montréal in the 2025 MLS SuperDraft, has dished out a team-high five assists, three of which have come against Big Ten Conference opposition.
Jonathan Evans has seen the lion's share of time in goal for Penn State, starting in nine matchups, including all five of the Nittany Lions' Big Ten contests. Boasting a 1.22 goals against average, Evans is just one game removed from a six-save showing in Penn State's aforementioned 2-1 win at Michigan State.
SERIES STUFF
Friday's tilt will serve as the 45th installment of the rivalry between Northwestern and Penn State in men's soccer, a series which the Nittany Lions lead, 29-9-6 (.711). The Wildcats snapped a seven-game winless run against Penn State last season, throttling the Nittany Lions by a 4-1 final at Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium behind a hat trick from Akinjide Awujo on November 3, 2024.
Northwestern will be in search of its first win at Jeffrey Field since November 1, 2015, when Mike Roberge and Nathan Dearth scored across 2:33 in the late stages of the second half to propel the 'Cats to a 2-1 triumph.
UP NEXT
Northwestern heads back on the road next week, traveling to Ann Arbor, Mich. on Friday, October 24 for a 6 p.m. CT tilt with No. 16 Michigan at the U-M Soccer Stadium.
LAST TIME OUT
Northwestern played to a scoreless draw with Michigan State this past Saturday to wrap up a three-game homestand at Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium.
The Wildcat defensive unit continued its rock-solid play of late, holding the Spartans without a shot on goal en route to a second shutout in as many games. Since allowing a 22nd-minute goal against Washington on September 29, Northwestern has held its opponents scoreless for 248 consecutive minutes of game action.
For his efforts last week, Andrew Johnson was named the Big Ten Conference's Freshman of the Week on Tuesday. Johnson put in back-to-back 90-minute shifts as Northwestern limited Evansville and Michigan State to a combined one shot on target.
SCOUTING PENN STATE
Coming off a 2-0 loss on the road at UCLA last Friday, Penn State (5-5-2) returns home sitting level with Northwestern in the conference standings with a 1-3-1 ledger in league action. The setback on the West Coast snapped a four-game unbeaten run for the Nittany Lions that included a heart-stopping 2-2 draw with No. 23 Maryland and a 2-1 win over Michigan State.
Like Northwestern, Penn State has been a tough out at home this season, going 4-2-1 (.643) across seven games at Jeffrey Field.
The pairing of Van Danielson and Ben Madore spearhead the attack for head coach Jeff Cook, with both members of the duo boasting four goals to their name this season. Madore found the back of the net against the Terrapins, while Danielson scored in the Nittany Lions' win over the Spartans. Caden Grabfelder, who was selected 50th overall by CF Montréal in the 2025 MLS SuperDraft, has dished out a team-high five assists, three of which have come against Big Ten Conference opposition.
Jonathan Evans has seen the lion's share of time in goal for Penn State, starting in nine matchups, including all five of the Nittany Lions' Big Ten contests. Boasting a 1.22 goals against average, Evans is just one game removed from a six-save showing in Penn State's aforementioned 2-1 win at Michigan State.
SERIES STUFF
Friday's tilt will serve as the 45th installment of the rivalry between Northwestern and Penn State in men's soccer, a series which the Nittany Lions lead, 29-9-6 (.711). The Wildcats snapped a seven-game winless run against Penn State last season, throttling the Nittany Lions by a 4-1 final at Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium behind a hat trick from Akinjide Awujo on November 3, 2024.
Northwestern will be in search of its first win at Jeffrey Field since November 1, 2015, when Mike Roberge and Nathan Dearth scored across 2:33 in the late stages of the second half to propel the 'Cats to a 2-1 triumph.
UP NEXT
Northwestern heads back on the road next week, traveling to Ann Arbor, Mich. on Friday, October 24 for a 6 p.m. CT tilt with No. 16 Michigan at the U-M Soccer Stadium.
Players Mentioned
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/ Men's Soccer
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