Penn State men’s soccer (1-0-0, 0-0-0 Big Ten) shutout Stetson 2-0 in its season opener at Jeffery Field on Friday night.

The Nittany Lions limited the Hatters to just four shots, as Caden Grabfelder recorded two goals en route to victory. Consistent pressure as the game went on allowed Penn State to conquer the first game of its 2025 slate.

How It Happened

Stetson began the game with a long kick out of bounds, resulting in a Penn State throw-in. The Nittany Lions applied immediate pressure, with Morgan Marshall having a solid opportunity to give Penn State an early lead.

Five minutes into the action, Penn State suffered a yellow card call on Freddie Bell for unsporting behavior. Shortly after, Mauricio Restrepo of Stetson was guilty of a handball, granting the Nittany Lions a free kick. They were able to maintain immediate possession but ultimately turned it over to the Hatters. 

The best chance for either team thus far in the action came 12 minutes in, when a shot by Marshall nearly missed a clump of Nittany Lions waiting by the net. A shot by Ben Liscum was then saved by the Stetson keeper, and an attempted bicycle kick by Jeppe Runge was unsuccessful. 

Penn State was able to find the back of the net courtesy of a long shot by midfielder Caden Grabfelder from beyond the box. The ball snuck in the top left corner of the net, giving the blue and white a 1-0 lead 20 minutes into the half. 

Another good chance for the Nittany Lions came shortly thereafter, as Marshall nearly tapped in the ball off a cross. The attempt was blocked by a Stetson defender. The Penn State pressure continued as the clock ticked down on the first half, as a Kai Phillip header was saved by Nicolo Radaelli of the Hatters. 

A foul on Liscum gave Stetson their best chance of the game thus far, but the free kick missed the mark. This was Stetson’s first shot of the game, as the Nittany Lion defense remained strong. Penn State was then awarded a free kick, also missing the net. 

Stetson had another good opportunity to get on the scoresheet with a corner kick, but Penn State goalkeeper Jonathan Evans reached up to make the save. As the final moments of the half ran out, the Nittany Lions found themselves with a small lead going into the break.

The beginning of the second half was relatively uneventful. The first shot came off a Penn State corner kick seven minutes in, which the Nittany Lions weren’t able to capitalize on. Later, Penn State finally began to apply some extended pressure. The Nittany Lions attempted a cross, but no one was home to put it away. 

A shot by Bell nearly trickled in the bottom right corner of the net after a deflection by a Stetson defender redirected the ball. Runge also had a great opportunity, as his shot nearly missed the inside of the right post. 

Stetson had a chance at a breakaway with just under 20 minutes remaining, but a quick retreat by the Penn State defense prevented a shot. Joao Freitas of Stetson was handed a yellow card for unsporting behavior in the moments following.

After a Penn State free kick, the Nittany Lions were able to retain possession and nearly put a second goal in the net off the rebound. Another yellow card was given to Stetson, this time on Valentin Fontaine. Off the free kick, Grabfelder scored his second goal of the game, as Radaelli was left helpless in the net. The Nittany Lions doubled their advantage, leading 2-0 with 14 minutes remaining.

While Penn State limited any Stetson offensive potential for the majority of the time remaining, the Hatters had a flurry of action near the goal with roughly six minutes to go. Still, nothing was able to go for the team from DeLand, Florida. Time ran out, and the Nittany Lions secured the 2-0 victory.

Takeaways

• Penn State couldn’t ask for a better start to its 2025 campaign, shutting out the first opponent on their schedule. Two goals by Grabfelder showed promise for the Nittany Lion midfield.
• The Nittany Lions held the Hatters to just four shots over the course of the 90-minute game. Evans did not need to make a single save. A strong defensive performance allowed Penn State to focus on the attacking third, inevitably helping it lock down the shutout. 
• Penn State had double the amount of corners as Stetson, 8-4. While none of the shots from the corner found the back of the net, the Nittany Lions were able to keep possession on many occasions, putting pressure on the Hatter defense and goalie.

What’s Next?

Penn State will travel to West Point, New York, to take on the Army Black Knights on Sunday, August 24. The game will begin at 6 p.m. in Malek Stadium and will air on ESPN+.