UPDATE: What a great evening! Kris Shakes was in goal and posted a clean sheet, his second in a row, to bring Penn State to 5-1-0 on the season and the Mack Match to 5-1-2 over all 8 years! The PSU Sports story is here. Hear Kris and Coach Cook interviewed and speak about the importance of the Mack Match.
Elizabeth, Izzy, and I are so thankful for all the support the community and Penn State Men’s Soccer continue to offer for the Mack Brady Fund and continuing Mack’s memory and legacy. Thank you all!
GAME NOTES:
Freshman Peter Mangione scored his third goal of the season and his third game-winning goal of the season. He leads the conference in that category.
Sophomore goalkeeper Kris Shakes recorded his second-straight shutout of the season. He’s had two-straight shutouts twice in his career now, doing so last season against Stetson (9/8/19) and Villanova (9/13/19).
Penn State moved to 5-1-2 in the annual Mack Brady Match. The defense has recorded shutouts in two consecutive Mack Brady games now after a 0-0 draw against Michigan last season.
The Nittany Lions picked up their third consecutive win over the Buckeyes and moved to 5-1-0 on the season.
Due to COVID the fall MSOC was postponed until the spring. Penn State’s MSOC is off to a great start (4-1-0) and today, March 23rd, will host Ohio State for the 8th Annual Mack Brady Match. Attendance is not allowed but you can view the game on BTN+. Details are here and below. They created this amazing poster for the match!
GAME INFORMATION
- Date: Tuesday, March 23, 2021 | Time: 5 p.m.
- Location: University Park, Pa. | Venue: Jeffrey Field
- Live Stats: GoPSUsports.com | Watch: Big Ten Network+ ($)
PENN STATE AGAINST OHIO STATE
- Penn State and Ohio State face off Tuesday for the 39th time in program history. The Nittany Lions lead the all-time series over the Buckeyes, 20-14-4, including two-straight wins.
- Last season, Penn State traveled to Columbus and picked up a 2-1 win in overtime to snap the Buckeyes’ five-game win streak at the time.
- The game started late after a nearly 50-minute weather delay and it was a scoreless first half before the Nittany Lions struck first. Then-freshman Andrew Privett scored his first career goal in the 56th minute to give Penn State the initial lead before Ohio State tied it up 10 minutes later to eventually force extra minutes. Then-freshman Liam Butts scored the golden goal in the 97th minute to send the Nittany Lions home happy.
SCOUTING OHIO STATE
- The Ohio State Buckeyes are led by third-year head coach Brian Maisonneuve. They are 3-2-1 nearing the last couple weeks of the regular season and are still ranked No. 25 by Top Drawer Soccer heading in to the week.
- Freshman Parker Grinstead leads the Buckeyes with seven points on a team-high three goals and one assist. He is one of seven Ohio State players to score at least one goal this season, and one of 10 to record points.
- In net, senior Noah Lawrence has played all six games and holds a 1.29 goals-against average with 17 saves for a .680 save percentage. He has two shutouts against Maryland and Michigan State.
LAST TIME OUT
- Penn State continued its winning ways Friday on the road in Evanston, Ill., taking down Northwestern, 1-0, in overtime at Martin Stadium live on Big Ten Network.
- Junior transfer Danny Bloyou scored the golden goal for the Nittany Lions in the 92nd minute on the assist from freshman Tyger Evans, as the two former Philadelphia Union Academy players have now connected for goals in two-straight games.
- The Penn State offense showed a lot of patience to find the back of the net as the team totaled 14 shots and seven on target during the 90 minutes of regulation.
- Sophomore goalkeeper Kris Shakes earned his third win of the season in net with four saves as he and the defense picked up their first shutout of the season.
EIGHTH ANNUAL MACK BRADY MATCH
- Tuesday’s match with Ohio State marks the eighth annual Mack Brady Match as the Nittany Lions help celebrate the life and legacy of one of their biggest fans.
- At the age of eight, Brady passed away on Dec. 31, 2012 following an unexpected blood infection. To honor his life and love for soccer, especially goalkeeping, Mack’s parents, Christian and Elizabeth Brady, created the “Mack Brady Memorial Soccer Fund.” The fund is an endowment for Penn State goalkeepers to assist with recruiting, equipment and other needs.
- Penn State has always found a way to win in the Mack Brady Match, with a 4-1-2 record in those games.