Penn State men’s soccer put its recent frustrating loss to West Virginia in the rear-view mirror Monday with a strong 3-1 comeback win over American University at Jeffrey Field.

Despite being without the services of wingback Jalen Watson, who was serving his red card suspension, and conceding an early goal, the Nittany Lions were able to rally off three consecutive goals and earn a home victory.

Flashy footwork from Tyger Evans and field-spreading vision from Femi Awodesu may have attracted the most attention from viewers, but an emerging storyline with midfielder Pierre Reedy was similarly noteworthy. Reedy was noticeably absent from the starting lineup against American, though he still saw around 30 minutes of gameplay.

After the match, head coach Jeff Cook confirmed that Reedy is recovering from “a very minor ankle soreness,” spurning on a sense of extra caution.

Although not fully at 100%, Reedy, following Penn State’s first two goals, signaled a clear shift in tactics when he entered the game. Recording two shots within his first six minutes on the pitch, Reedy’s presence further underscored a more aggressive turn from Penn State that seemed intended to contain play on American’s defensive half and force open a game-closing opportunity.

The combination of Cook’s decision to put American under relentless pressure and Reedy’s veteran on-field leadership paid off, as a third goal appeared to put the game out of reach.

“Specifically there was a moment right before [Reedy] came off in the second half where the American team counter attacked. He sprinted about 80 yards back, recovered a ball, played us out, and prevented a really dangerous moment,” Cook said. “His leadership by example is so motivating for the entire group, even for the coaches. I love having him on our team.”

Cook and the Nittany Lions will certainly hope to have a healthy Reedy on the pitch as they head into a game against in-state rival Penn. The match is set for kickoff at 7 p.m. on Friday, September 10, at Rhodes Field in Philadelphia.