Penn State men’s soccer (4-5-0, 1-2-0 Big Ten) had a second-half comeback to beat St. John’s (2-4-3, 0-1-0 Big East) 2-1 on Tuesday night in New York.

The Nittany Lions had minimal possession in the first half, struggling to keep any control of tempo and getting dominated. They came back from halftime down 1-0 and seemed to wake up in the final 30 minutes. Captain Matthew Henderson led the charge to a comeback, scoring his second Olimpico goal of the season and assisting the winning goal to wrap up nonconference play.

How It Happened

Penn State made a change in net, with Fredrick Grundin coming in as goalkeeper instead of Andrew Cooke. Play was slow to start the game, with not much happening in the first 10 minutes.

St. John’s claimed the night’s first shot in the 11th minute, but it was blocked and did not threaten the Nittany Lions.

St. John’s had a threatening chance in the 16th minute, breaking onto goal with Grundin coming out to meet the ball and force a wide touch. The ball bounced toward goal, but Penn State’s defense was there to clear the ball out for a corner kick that the Red Storm could not convert.

The Red Storm took the early lead in the 22nd minute, shocking Penn State’s defense. The ball was sent towards the penalty spot where Tyler Morck was wide open and smashed it into the bottom right side of the net.

Freddie Bell attempted to switch the tempo for Penn State but was overtaken in his own half and the Red Storm got off a slew of shots, with the last headed away by Jack Bonas for St. John’s second corner. It was headed into the air, but Grundin easily ran over to grab the ball.

Head coach Jeff Cook made five changes in the 25th and 32nd minute, searching for a change in direction and energy. By the 35th minute, St. John’s had six shots, with two on goal, to Penn State’s zero shots.

The Nittany Lions struggled to make runs on offense, trying for long passes that were consistently intercepted. They won a free kick in the 42nd after a foul on captain Ben Liscum, but the Red Storm won the ball right back.

Henderson stepped up for another Penn State free kick in the closing seconds of the half and sent a strong ball into the box. Bonas jumped up for the ball at the same time as St. John’s goalie Alex McLachlan and they collided to end the chance and go into halftime.

The Red Storm came out threatening to start the second half, breaking into the box, but Mohammed Cisset was there to push the ball out, causing a needed foul but giving away a free kick right outside the box. Grundin dove to push the ball out as it almost snuck in at the far post. The following corner went over the crossbar and Penn State got possession for the first time in the half.

Despite Caden Grabfelder’s best efforts, Penn State could not keep possession of the ball, hitting it in the air and failing to trap it time and time again.

Penn State found its first shot of the game in the 57th minute as Grabfelder dribbled into the box, but his shot was deflected off his defender and the ball went back to the Red Storm.

Aboubacar Camara won the ball back, heading straight toward the net before squaring the ball near the penalty spot, but he failed to lift his head and see that no players were there to receive. Malick Daouda hopped on a deflection, getting off a shot for McLachlan to fall on.

The momentum seemed to shift for Penn State in the 71st minute as it won a threatening free kick. Henderson stepped up to take it, sending a strong hit toward goal, but McLachlan was aggressive to jump out and punch the ball back to Penn State’s half.

The Nittany Lions won their first corner of the night in the 74th, sending everyone besides Grundin up. Henderson took the kick, curling the ball right into the far top corner for an Olimpico goal to equalize 1-1.

Would you believe us that this is Hendo’s SECOND olimpico this season pic.twitter.com/9nq0MWK0VD

— Penn State Men’s Soccer (@PennStateMSOC) September 25, 2024

The captain’s goal was a huge momentum swing for the Nittany Lions and exactly what they needed.

Just six minutes later, Henderson ran into the left side of the box, received the ball on the run, and juked past his defender, dumping the ball to Michael Hewes. The midfielder hit it first time with his left foot, smashing it into the back of the net just five feet away from the goal.

Hewes Hendo pic.twitter.com/SsiKBoTlRe

— Penn State Men’s Soccer (@PennStateMSOC) September 25, 2024

St. John’s came back down searching to tie the game but Grundin grabbed a header and sent the ball downfield for Penn State.

The Nittany Lions worked together as a unit the best they did all game during the last five minutes of the game, fighting to secure the win. Van Danielson won the ball near half, sprinting downfield, but a Red Storm defender came out of nowhere to bully him off the ball and stop a shot.

Hewes sent the ball over the line for Danielson but hit it just too hard and it rolled into the box to the keeper before the attacker could reach. Penn State’s defense continuously intercepted balls on the ground and in the air before booting it downfield, seemingly trying to give it to Danielson but just giving away possession each time.

St. John’s broke into the box in the last minute, staying in Penn State’s attacking third before smashing a shot wide of the goal. The Nittany Lions kept strong pressure on and secured its 2-1 comeback win over the Red Storm.

Takeaways

• Penn State was completely overrun in the first 60 minutes, barely having any possession. Any time they had the ball, the Nittany Lions rushed a pass or sent it in the air, St. John’s easily intercepted it and took control of the game. It wasn’t until they had a sustained amount of possession that they started playing together for the final 30 minutes. This is a team that struggles greatly when it is not dominating from the start.
• The Nittany Lions only had a total of five shots tonight, three on goal. St. John’s on the other hand had 15 shots with four on goal. The Nittany Lions’ offensive output has been severely struggling lately and was seen tonight as it struggled to work as a unit.
• Cooke did not start in goal tonight, replaced by Grundin. Cook has confirmed that he takes the starting goalkeeper game by game but that he has been impressed with Cooke so far this season and did not see the need to drop him. The reason for the change in goalkeeper is unknown, but Grundin impressed, holding 15 shots to only one goal, and recording three immense saves.

What’s Next?

The Nittany Lions will hit the road again to continue Big Ten play against the Terrapins. The game will. take place at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, October 1, in Maryland.