Head coach Jeff Cook’s men’s team is once again unranked in the United Soccer Coaches national poll after falling off the rankings in week five.

The Nittany Lions bested Michigan State 4-1 on October 7. Peter Mangione opened up the scoring in the fifth minute and the lineup never slowed down. Liam Butts scored a brace and redshirt freshman Van Danielson closed out the game with a goal of his own.

Following Butts’ stellar performance, the senior was named to College Soccer News’ National Team of the Week and dubbed the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week.

The team’s next test will be on the road against Indiana at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, October 14. Penn State ended the Hoosiers’ three-year Big Ten Tournament winning streak in 2021 when it secured the Big Ten double.

Now, Indiana is sitting at an unusual 5-2-4 overall record and 1-1-3 within the conference. With the loss of former goalkeeper Roman Celentano, the Hoosiers are giving up more goals than ever. The Penn State offense can absolutely take advantage of an Indiana lineup still getting used to its new goaltender.

“We just have to accept the reality that if we win next Friday at Indiana it doesn’t mean we win the Big Ten. If we get a different outcome it doesn’t mean we have no chance of winning the Big Ten,” said head coach Jeff Cook about the team’s highly anticipated match against the Hoosiers.

Despite being unranked in the United Soccer Coaches poll, Top Drawer Soccer placed Penn State men’s soccer at No. 25 in its rankings.

On the women’s side, head coach Erica Dambach’s team bounced back into the national poll at No. 25. The Nittany Lions posted a 2-0 win over Maryland following two straight losses at the hands of Michigan State and Ohio State.

Junior midfielder Natalie Wilson scored her first career goal in the 24th minute, and Cori Dyke added another to the scoreboard off a trick play set piece.

Up next, the Nittany Lions are set to face Wisconsin at 6 p.m. on Thursday, October 13, at Jeffrey Field. Then, Penn State will close out its regular season home slate against Michigan at 1 p.m. on Sunday, October 16.

Wisconsin also received votes in the United Soccer Coaches poll but remains unranked since the week six poll. It’s pushing a 10-2-2 record and just suffered its first conference loss to then-No. 6 Northwestern.

Still, Penn State holds a 15-4 record over the Badgers dating back to 2001.