Penn State men’s soccer (2-5-0, 0-1-0 Big Ten) was dismantled by Ohio State (6-0-1, 1-0-0) in the Big Ten home opener Tuesday night.

In a shocking display, the Nittany Lions were completely dominated, getting little to no possession and giving away 18 corner kicks on the night. Nothing helped Penn State, even on its home soil, and it gave away five goals with only one shot on goal of their own for the night.

How It Happened

Ohio State got the first shot of the game, with captain Ben Liscum putting his body on the line for the Nittany Lions to block the kick. Right after, the Buckeyes sent a throw-in to the far side of the box, squaring it into the middle past defender Sam Ovesen, but Matthew Henderson was there to clear the ball out for a throw-in to reset Penn State’s defense.

The Buckeyes stayed on offense, winning a corner kick and getting off a slew of shots. Mohammed Cisset came up with a big-time deflection for the Nittany Lions, giving the Buckeyes another corner kick that Henderson cleared and attempted to send down the field for Christian Dionne who failed to get there in time.

The first 15 minutes were all Ohio State and Penn State’s defense got no break as it had to defend seven corners and six shots.

Morgan Marshall had the most exciting opportunity for Penn State in the 16th minute, taking the ball down the sideline and sending it into the box where the Nittany Lions fumbled it and Ohio State goalie Patrick McLaughlin came out victorious.

Ohio State had a big chance, but goalie Andrew Cooke came off his line for a huge kick save.

The Buckeyes just continued to dominate with David Ajagbe breaking onto goal, but the shot was just a bit too weak and rolled to Cooke.

Ohio State finally found its breakthrough in the 28th minute, with Luciano Pechota slotting it into the top left of the net.

Henderson stepped up in the 31st to intercept a pass, winning a throw-in for the Nittany Lions who searched to control possession. That attempt quickly turned fruitful as the Buckeyes took over once more.

Ohio State won another corner kick and headed it toward goal with Cooke grabbing at the ball but unable to get a true grasp on it in the end, giving an own goal away to Ohio State, which went up 2-0 in the 32nd.

Penn State finally recorded its first shot of the night from sub Van Danielson, who hit out over the post.

The first half ended with a dominant opening 45 from the Buckeyes up 2-0, with 12 shots and 13 corners versus Penn State’s singular shot.

The Nittany Lions came back from halftime with a new defensive structure, with Henderson, Bonas, Sean Bettenhausen, and Marshall on the back line and Liscum dropping back as needed for runs to be made.

Kojo Dadzie provided a shine of light through the darkness, recording Penn State’s first shot on goal for the game in the 50th minute. Penn State couldn’t sustain the chance, though, as Ohio State scored back-to-back goals in the 55th and 57th minutes to go up 4-0.

The Buckeyes had a threatening chance to go up by five, but Donas fought heart and soul to stop the initial shot, diving onto the ground and Cooke grabbed the ball before sending it back upfield where it fell to the Buckeyes.

Dionne stepped up to intercept the ball, going on a breakthrough but was taken down in the box with no foul called. The attacker immediately got up and won the ball back before being overtaken three versus one and a controversial kick was given to the Buckeyes.

Ohio State won its 17th corner in the 78th minute, with the kick somehow bouncing right into the back of the net as Penn State’s defense looked on.

The Nittany Lions continued to be completely dominated by the Buckeyes with no relief in sight. They attempted balls over the top into the box in the final ten minutes, but time and time again Ohio State simply got in front and won possession back.

The game dwindled down and Ohio State secured its 5-0 win over the Nittany Lions.

Takeaways

• Penn State’s defense was constantly overrun tonight. There is no understating it. The whole game was the Ohio State show and Penn State was never able to gain any actual possession throughout the whole 90 minutes.
• Fan attendance was shockingly low at Jeffrey Field tonight for a Big Ten home opener against Ohio State. Of the few who did come, the majority left at halftime after falling 2-0 down and spared themselves the suffering of seeing all five goals. Penn State always shares how important the home fans are to them, and when the team needs them the most, the fans are falling.
• The Buckeyes won 18 corners on the night. Penn State’s defense just isn’t strong enough this season and although many were shot deflections, they failed to truly get the ball cleared upfield as they only went out for a corner time and time again.

What’s Next?

Penn State will stay in Happy Valley for another Big Ten matchup, this time against Michigan State. The game will start at 7 p.m. on Friday, September 20, at Jeffrey Field.