Penn State knew its road trip to Rutgers would be a test, but nobody could’ve predicted what was about to happen during the game. Around 8 p.m., Yurcak Field was hit with power outages, although officials were unable to pinpoint the cause. The game was delayed for roughly two and a half hours, but play was able to resume after workers restored power to the field. The Nittany Lions endured a long, testing night, but the team was able to prevail 2-0 despite peculiar circumstances. Let’s take a look at how the action unfolded.

How It Happened

Fans didn’t have to wait long for the scoring to begin, as senior midfielder Brian James netted the game’s first goal just nine minutes into the action, giving Penn State a comfortable one-goal cushion early on. The Nittany Lion defense was stout all night, but goalkeeper Matt Bersano did everything in his power to keep the Scarlet Knights off the board.

It was a back and forth game, but Penn State’s attack held strong with fantastic looks coming from potent scorers Mac Curran and Connor Maloney, who kept Rutgers goalkeeper David Greczek honest with constant pressure throughout.

Rutgers had its chances, but simply could not capitalize. A close look off the post nearly evened things up, but a Riley Grant rocket with two minutes remaining in regulation ended Rutger’s failed comeback attempt. Penn State’s resounding effort throughout despite existential electrical issues struck a chord with Head Coach Bob Warming.

“”We were a really together team tonight,” Warming said in his postgame interview. “I’m proud of the way our guys worked together and supported each other against a very talented Rutgers team.”

Warming’s words encapsulate his team’s style of play; physical, unified, and unrelenting. It’s clear that the coach was proud of the way his team performed, pushing through after a dreadfully long delay.

Player Of The Game

After notching his fifth shutout of the season, Player of the Game honors go to goalkeeper Matt Bersano. His relentless effort in goal kept the Scarlet Knights off the board, and saw him continue his surprising run of good form. Bersano’s presence in net has been a gift for the Nittany Lions, a team that was unsure of its goalkeeping future after the departure of star keeper Andrew Wolverton. Headed by Bersano, the Lions feature one of the nation’s most prominent defensive units, one that will be crucial to the team’s success during its Big Ten Conference slate.

What’s Next?

Next up for the Nittany Lions will be an Oct. 9 meeting with Maryland at 7 p.m. Jeffrey Field will be rocking, as the game serves as the team’s whiteout match, so expect fans to arrive in droves to make Jeffrey Field resemble Beaver Stadium.