Penn State (4-3-1, 2-1 Big Ten) returned to Jeffrey Field on Friday to continue Big Ten play against Wisconsin (3-2-1, 2-1 Big Ten). The Badgers were coming into this game looking to continue their two match win streak after their recent 2-1 victory over Northwestern. The Nittany Lions were looking to rebound from a tough overtime loss last weekend to now No. 1 Maryland. Penn State was on the victorious side of this overtime game beating Wisconsin 2-1.

How It Happened

Senior Connor Maloney and freshman goalkeeper Arie Amman were not featured in the starting lineup for the Nittany Lions Friday. Evan Finney got the start at goalie for Penn State for the first time since Aug. 28 against UC Berkeley.

It was a relatively even first half played between Penn State and Wisconsin. Neither team could find the back of the net in the first and there weren’t too many quality scoring chances. Both teams tallied seven shots in the first half with Penn State having two shots on goal compared to Wisconsin’s one shot on goal.

Penn State did a good job of keeping the ball on the Wisconsin side of the field to start the second half. It paid off in the 53rd minute when a cross by Penn State’s Pierre Reedy turned into an own goal by Wisconsin to give the Nittany Lions a 1-0 advantage. Sam Brotherton for the Badgers attempted to clear the cross attempt but headed the ball in the upper corner of the net.

In the 56th minute sophomore speedster Dayonn Harris had to exit the game due to an injury, but did eventually return. In the 67th minute, Mike Catalano had a shot that just missed upper corner for the Badgers that would have been the equalizer. Penn State’s Mac Curran tried to channel his inner Carli Lloyd from shooting near midfield to take advantage of Wisconsin’s goalie stepping a bit too far out of the net in the 70th minute. However, Philipp Schilling made a great recovery save for the Badgers to keep it 1-0 Nittany Lions.

Penn State’s defense eventually broke down in the 77th minute when Christopher Mueller scored for Wisconsin from 12 yards out to tie the game 1-1. Three minutes later, Harris had a fantastic scoring chance after a nice set up from Aymar Sigue, but Schilling came up with another big save for Wisconsin. For the fifth time this season, 90 minutes is not enough and this game goes to overtime.

Wisconsin dominated possession in the first overtime, but Penn State’s defense held strong to keep the ball out of the net. In the second overtime, Sigue was going in on goal, but was taken down by a Wisconsin defender with no call from the ref.

Austin Maloney came through in the clutch with under two minutes to play when he netted a penalty kick to give Penn State a 2-1 double overtime victory over Wisconsin.

Austin Maloney scores the penalty kick for the double overtime victory for @PennStateMSOC over Wisconsin. https://t.co/UHMragEm3V

— Penn State On BTN (@PennStateOnBTN) September 24, 2016

Player Of The Game

Austin Maloney | Midfielder | Sophomore

Easy choice here. Maloney netted the penalty kick with under two minutes to go in the second overtime to give Penn State the 2-1 victory.

What’s Next

Penn State will be back home for their next game on Tuesday in a non-conference match against the Temple Owls. Kick off at Jeffrey Field is set for 7 p.m.