Today in Penn State sports: Sept. 17, 2017
Wrapping up a Sunday fiilled with action for Penn State sports:
Men’s soccer
Maryland blanks Penn State in annual Mack Brady Match
Maryland spoiled the day for the Penn State men’s soccer team’s annual Mack Brady Match at Jeffrey Field on Sunday.
The No. 3 Terrapins scored a pair of second-half goals in the 2-0 decision, the first loss for the Nittany Lions in five matches celebrating Brady, a State College boy and soccer fan who passed away in December 2012, at 8 years old.
Eryk Williamson had a goal and an assist for the Terps (6-0-1, 2-0-1 Big Ten), Sebastian Elney netted the other goal and Dayne St. Clair earned the shutout. Penn State played the final 18 minutes with only 10 players after a red card ejection was given to forward Ethan Beckford, the third time this season the Lions had to finish a game a man down.
“One thing that is always important is belief,” coach Bob Warming said after the game. “Sometimes players need to win matches to have belief, but our goal is to keep getting better and that is it. I thought there were moments tonight where we were even a man down and I was thinking that we were going to tie the game up. I think our guys will have some belief and we will move forward.”
The best chance for the Nittany Lions (1-3-2, 0-2) to find the net came in the 84th minute, when a corner kick found the head of Christian Sload, beating St. Clair. But another Maryland defender was able to clear the line and preserve the shutout.
Penn State next plays Wednesday, hosting Detroit Mercy.
Women’s soccer
Last-minute goal lifts Penn State
UNIVERSITY PARK Penn State took the drama all the way to the end before Laura Freigang found the net with 42 seconds left in the second overtime in a 1-0 victory over Illinois on Sunday afternoon at Jeffrey Field.
It was the No. 8 Nittany Lions’ fourth shutout of the year and first double-overtime win since 2013.
Maddie Elliston played the ball from midfield to Freigang in the box. The sophomore played the ball to herself, then turned and drilled her right-footed shot for her first goal of the year to beat Illini keeper Jaelyn Cunningham. Cunningham made 10 saves in the loss.
Rose Chandler stopped one shot for the shutout.
Penn State (6-2, 2-0 Big Ten), which outshot Illinois 27-2, hits the road Friday, visiting Iowa.
Men’s golf
Lions finish 5th at Duke
DURHAM, N.C. Three Nittany Lions broke par during Sunday’s final round as Penn State took fifth in the Rod Myers Invitational at the Duke University Golf Club.
Charles Huntzinger and Cole Miller each carded final-round 3-under 69s while Ryan Davis posted a 71 for Penn State. Huntzinger led his team with a 7 under total to tie for eight, while Miller tied for 15th at 2 under and Davis finished at 1 over to tie for 24th.
Wake Forest’s Will Zalatoris and Oregon’s Norman Xiong tied for medalist honors at 12 under, and Wake Forest won at 29 under 835. The Nittany Lions finished at 5-under 859.
Penn State returns to the course Oct. 8 at Northwestern.
Field hockey
Nittany Lions suffer first loss
LANCASTER Penn State suffered its first loss of the season Sunday afternoon, dropping a 2-0 decision to No. 6 Delaware at Spooky Nook, the training home of the U.S. national field hockey program.
Lisa Giezeman scored in the opening minutes, and Kiki Bink added a second-half score for the Blue Hens (6-1).
Jenny Rizzo made two saves in the loss. No. 2 Penn State (7-1) returns to action Friday, hosting Northwestern.
This story was originally published September 17, 2017 at 11:10 PM with the headline "Today in Penn State sports: Sept. 17, 2017."