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Articles by Otis Lyons
No. 12 Penn State Men's Soccer Falls 8-2 to Hofstra in NCAA Tournament Rout
It couldn’t have gone any worse for Penn State men’s soccer Sunday, as its NCAA Tournament journey came to a sharp end in the second round at Jeffrey Field. The No. 12 seed Nittany Lions fell to Hofstra 8-2 in a shocking performance. Femi Awodesu and Danny Bloyou had consolation goals for head coach Jeff Cook’s side. “First, I would like to say that despite tonight’s result, I remain immensely proud of our players,” Jeff Cook said after the game. “It’s been a great season.
Penn State Women’s Soccer Triumphs in Penalty Kick Shootout Over USC, Returns to Sweet 16
Penn State women’s soccer (13-7) upset No. 3 seed and 11th-ranked USC 3-2 in the second round of the NCAA Tournament on Friday in Los Angeles. Ally Schlegel scored twice, but two equalizers for USC sent the match into overtime tied 2-2, and then the dreaded penalty shootout. All five Nittany Lions converted, and a Kat Asman save sealed the deal for Erica Dambach’s side. With the win, Penn State clinched its fifth-straight Sweet Sixteen appearance.
Penn State Men's Soccer Defeats Indiana 3-0 to Win Big Ten Tournament Championship
The Penn State men's soccer team celebrates after winning the Big Ten Tournament championship with a 3-0 victory over Indiana on Sunday, Nov. 14, 2021 at Jeffrey Field. Photo by Sarah Lynn DeCarlo Penn State men’s soccer now has a 2021 Big Ten Tournament championship to go with its regular season title. The Nittany Lions (13-6-1) completed the Big Ten double with a 3-0win over Indiana (14-5-1) in Sunday’s conference championship at Jeffrey Field.
Penn State Men's Soccer Defeats Indiana 3-0 To Win Big Ten Tournament
Penn State men’s soccer (13-6-1) completed the Big Ten double with a 3-0win over Indiana (14-5-1) in Sunday’s Big Ten Tournament championship at Jeffrey Field. Seth Kuhn’s deflected shot in the 36th minute got the Nittany Lions off the mark before Tyger Evans and Pierre Reedy clinched the win with second-half goals. Kris Shakes posted his third straight shutout in the Big Ten Tournament. Jeff Cook once again rolled out his first-choice starting eleven for the championship match.
Park Avenue Army Brings New Energy To Jeffrey Field
It was the 49th minute at Jeffrey Field last Sunday. No. 11 Penn State men’s soccer led Syracuse 1-0, but it hadn’t been a thoroughly convincing performance, especially considering the disappointing draw just a few days prior with underdog George Mason. Ominous thunderclouds and dreary conditions were somewhat metaphoric of how the match felt — on a knife’s edge. The Nittany Lions could — should — be dominating the Orange and setting the tone for the rest of the season.
Midfield depth arrives just in time for two match week
Heading into Thursday’s clash with Orlando City SC, Philadelphia Union head coach Jim Curtin has an unusual embarrassment of riches in the midfield to work with. For the first time, Jose Andres Martinez, Leon Flach, Alejandro Bedoya, Jamiro Monteiro and Daniel Gazdag will all be available for selection in Florida. There simply isn’t enough space on the field for the five players, whom Curtin noted are all in fantastic form. “It’s a great luxury for any coach to have.
Key players missing on both sides of Philadelphia Union- DC United clash
Important players will be missing on either side of the field when the Union take on DC United tonight. Philadelphia remains without the Jamaican trio of Andre Blake, Cory Burke, and Alvas Powell, who are with their national team at the Gold Cup. It appears as if they won't be back for awhile after Jamaica’s 2-0 start, which has secured them progression to the quarterfinals. Meanwhile, Jack de Vries and Anthony Fontana are both still under concussion protocol, putting them out of Saturday’s lineup.
Soccer community mourning loss of Teddy van Beuren, a Street Soccer USA executive
Teddy van Beuren, known to many for his love of the beautiful game, passed away on June 26 in a car accident in Shohola, Pennsylvania after an evening of fly fishing with his father. Van Beuren was just recently named as chairman of the NYC Street Soccer Board. The 38-year-old spent nearly a decade of his life with Street Soccer USA, both in Philadelphia and New York City. “We hold Teddy up unflinchingly as an example to everyone,” Street Soccer USA stated in a release.
West Chester native Aiden McFadden making a name for himself as Atlanta United 2 rookie
Just six months ago, Aiden McFadden was preparing for the second half of an unorthodox collegiate season with Notre Dame. The West Chester, Pennsylvania native was in his senior year, with his mind set on using his extra season next fall in South Bend. Flash forward to present day, and McFadden is Atlanta United 2’s leading scorer in the USL Championship as a winger and right back. How did his abrupt ascendancy to the professional ranks begin? An MLS SuperDraft he didn’t even register for.
Allentown United and Atlantic City FC to play in NISA Independent Cup
Allentown United and Atlantic City FC will begin their NISA Independent Cup campaigns against each other today. The match will kick off at 7 p.m. at Cedar Crest College in Allentown, and will stream live on Eleven Sports. The two sides are competing in the Mid Atlantic region along with Maryland Bobcats and Steel Pulse FC. The four clubs will play each other in a round robin format over the next three weekends.
WPSL update: Colonial Conference to come down to last day
It all comes down to this. SJEB FC will host the Washington Dutch Lions in a do-or-die final match today at 7 p.m. The match at Total Turf in Pitman will decide the champion of the Colonial Conference, with the top three slots in the league all to be determined. Currently, neither team is actually in first in the conference. CAFC Ospreys have that distinction, having earned 17 points through all eight of their matches.
Matt Freese’s ‘maturity, character’ key during Andre Blake absence
Thursday’s match against the New York Red Bulls will be the first for the Philadelphia Union without the players selected for the upcoming Gold Cup. Alvas Powell and Cory Burke will both be in Orlando ahead of Jamaica’s opener with Suriname, but it is the Reggae Boyz’ presumed No. 1 — Andre Blake — that will be the most important piece to replace. In Wednesday’s press conference with the media, head coach Jim Curtin appeared to give the nod to Matt Freese over Joe Bendik.
Philadelphia Union Foundation partners with The SWAG
The Philadelphia Union Foundation will partner with The SWAG, a program to help inner-city children develop a passion for soccer. The SWAG offers free soccer training for 47 weeks of the year for ages 4-8, and operates in African American and immigrant communities. The programs are primarily in the North and Southwest regions of the city, where football and basketball are the most popular sports. Thrilled to be working with @PhilaUnion.
Jose Martinez’s return, width play key in defeating Nashville
Despite Nashville SC being in the league since 2020, Saturday’s fixture with the Philadelphia Union will be the first clash between the two sides. While little to no familiarity of Nashville leaves it tougher to scout this weekend’s opponents, Jim Curtin will have the ability to call upon Jose Martinez, who is returning from Copa America duties with Venezuela. “He’ll be back and he’ll be available for the match against Nashville, which is important,” Curtin said of Martinez.
Quinn Sullivan’s bicycle kick named MLS Goal of the Week
Quinn Sullivan’s bicycle kick in the 28th minute against Chicago Fire last weekend has been named the MLS Goal of the Week. First MLS goal was electric.⚡️@QuinnSullivan33 wins #ATTGotW! https://t.co/pXguaKYM1j pic.twitter.com/67NcuRsdKv — Major League Soccer (@MLS) July 1, 2021 With the Union trailing 1-0, Sullivan took advantage of being unmarked on a corner kick. Jamiro Monteiro’s cross was met by a Chicago defender who attempted to clear, although it went directly to a lurking Sullivan.
USL League Two update: West Chester United close in on Mid-Atlantic title
The regular season is coming to a close in USL League Two, and West Chester United are a win or two away from receiving the Mid Atlantic Division title. West Chester are coming off of a narrow 1-0 victory over defending champions Reading United last Wednesday, improving their record to 8-1-2. The winning goal came in the 16th minute via leading scorer Troy Amspacher, on an assist from Isaac McGinnis.
Penn State Men's Basketball to Host Miami in Big Ten/ACC Challenge
Penn State men’s basketball will host Miami in this year’s Big Ten/ACC Challenge on Wednesday, Dec. 1, the program announced on Monday. Specific broadcast information is still to be determined, but the game will be televised on either ESPN, ESPN2, or ESPNU. The Nittany Lions have recently fared well in this non-conference event, winning three straight matchups.
After lengthy break Philadelphia Union returns to action at ‘hostile’ Mercedes-Benz Stadium
After an intense two legs against Atlanta United in the Concacaf Champions League quarterfinals earlier this season, the Philadelphia Union is a perfect guest for Sunday’s return to MLS action at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. It will be the first meaningful fixture in three weeks for both clubs; additionally, Jim Curtin and Gabriel Heinze’s rivalry will resume in front of a full house in Atlanta, the largest crowd the Union will perform in front of since the 2019 MLS Cup playoff exit at the same venue.
Alvas Powell expected to compete for starting time for the Philadelphia Union
With a busy summer ahead, Philadelphia Union head coach Jim Curtin expects new signing Alvas Powell to be in contention for a starting spot right off the bat. The team won’t play until next Sunday, June 20 against Atlanta United, giving Powell over a week to get involved with the squad. Luckily, team chemistry shouldn’t be a problem. “He spoke to me glowingly with how easy it is to fit in this locker room, the players have really.
Mark McKenzie speaking out online about racial abuse at Concacaf Nations League final
United States national team and former Philadelphia Union defender Mark McKenzie is speaking out to condemn racial abuse targeted toward him and his teammates at last weekend’s CONCACAF Nations League final. “I’ve been debating on whether I post anything about what’s been going on because I don’t want to take attention away from Sunday incredible moments that occurred on Sunday,” McKenzie wrote.
Union 2 defender Mani Diop eager for next step at Penn State after graduating from YSC Academy
Since the age of two in his Senegalese village, Mani Diop has had a soccer ball at his feet. At the age of 14, Diop moved stateside, and initially attended high school at Pennington School in New Jersey before joining the Philadelphia Union Academy and enrolling in classes at YSC Academy.
WPSL update: Penn Fusion, Lehigh Valley Tempest off to perfect starts
After just two matches in the WPSL season, the Mid Atlantic Conference seems like a two-horse race. Penn Fusion is off to a 2-0 start with wins against Hershey FC and Torch FC, both of whom are struggling in the early going. The four-time defending conference champions have yet to concede a goal while putting six past their opponents thus far. Meanwhile, Lehigh Valley Tempest also remains perfect through two matches, after dispatching Philadelphia Lone Star FC twice.
USL League Two update: West Chester United, Ocean City Northeasterners lead Mid Atlantic Division
West Chester United SC has a four point lead at the top of USL League Two’s Mid Atlantic Division, but the the Ocean City Nor’easters are perfect through their first three games with matches in hand. The Nor’easters got the best of West Chester United last Sunday 2-1 at Carey Stadium in West Chester’s second game of the day after an afternoon Region 1 Amateur Cup semifinal at home.
Philadelphia Union not taking Portland Timbers lightly despite injuries
The Philadelphia Union faces Gio Savarese and the Portland Timbers on Sunday, the last match before a three-week break. The inter-conference matchup will be one of the most anticipated contests of the weekend, considering the Union’s form and the Timbers are steadily climbing up the Western Conference table. However, the focus of the game? Who is not going to be present.
Atlantic City FC, Allentown United enter expanded NISA Independent Cup
Two local clubs will compete in the 2021 NISA Independent Cup, which will run this summer from July to August. Both Atlantic City FC and Allentown United FC will compete in the 36-club tournament spanning nine regions. They will both compete in the Mid-Atlantic region, joining Steel Pulse FC and the Maryland Bobcats. Atlantic City FC is currently playing in the NPSL’s Keystone Conference in regular season play.
West Chester United beats VE on late goal to advance to National Amateur Cup regional final
WEST CHESTER, Pa. — Troy Amspacher struck late, and West Chester United defeated Vereinigung Erzgebirge 1-0 in the USASA Amateur Cup Region 1 semifinals on Sunday afternoon at Kildare’s Park. The home side deserved the victory after creating most of the match’s chances. However, VE looked dangerous toward the end, and even hit the crossbar with under a minute to play in search of an equalizer.
After full week of training, the Union head to D.C. to take on their I-95 rivals
With the Concacaf Champions League on pause until late summer, the Philadelphia Union turns their attention completely to the MLS slate. After a narrow 1-0 victory last weekend against the New York Red Bulls, Jim Curtin’s side will head to the Capitol to play DC United on Sunday. DC United have struggled in the first weeks of Hernan Losada’s tenure, with injuries plaguing more than a third of the team since preseason began.
SJEB FC wins big in WPSL debut
Kelli McGroarty and Maddison Bee combined for six goals and each tallied an assist as they led SJEB FC to a commanding 8-3 win over Old Dominion Cesena in the WPSL opener last Saturday. Bee opened the scoring in the first half by capitalizing on a goalmouth scrum before McGroarty doubled the advantage on a nice through-ball from Jordan Siok. The two stars of Saturday’s show combined on a selfless play for the third goal, all within the first half.
Concacaf Champions League semifinal dates announced
The CONCACAF Champions League semifinal dates were announced on Thursday, with the Philadelphia Union set to host Liga MX powerhouse Club America on Wednesday, September 15 at 9 p.m. for the second leg. Jim Curtin’s team will head down to Mexico City for the first match on Thursday, August 12, for a 10 p.m. kickoff at the Estadio Azteca. The Union have been given the rights to host the second leg based on their performance in the two previous rounds.
NPSL Update: Atlantic City earns controversial draw; Hershey FC drops first two matches
Atlantic City FC escaped with a 2-2 draw last Saturday against FC Motown after a dramatic and controversial finish to the match. The Aces found themselves trailing for the first and second time of the 2021 campaign but managed to stay unbeaten in stoppage time at Montclair State University. Michael Bello’s first half goal had FC Motown leading at the half, although the advantage didn’t last long after that.
USL League Two Update: West Chester United off to a good start
West Chester United SC is off to a hot start in USL League Two play. Through three matches, the local team leads the Mid-Atlantic division with a 2-0-1 record, already four points clear of their closest competitor. Defense has been the key to West Chester’s success. Blaise Santangelo’s side is yet to give up a goal after 270 minutes of soccer in wins against Philly Lone Star and Lehigh Valley United, and their latest affair, a scoreless draw with Real Central New Jersey.
Penn State Ranked No. 1 College For Networking
Your tour guide wasn’t lying when they said Penn State is a great place to make connections. According to College Magazine, Penn State is the No. 1 college for networking in the United States, ahead of Virginia Tech and Stanford. “Penn State constantly offers virtual networking events, career fairs and career coaching opportunities,” College Magazine said.
Penn State Women's Soccer Eliminated from NCAA Tournament with 3-1 Loss to No. 1 Florida State
Penn State women’s soccer (12-3-1) couldn’t handle No. 1 Florida State’s (13-0) impressive attack, and ultimately fell 3-1 in the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA Tournament on Wednesday afternoon in Cary, North Carolina. The Nittany Lions took the lead in the first half against the run of play via Frankie Tagliaferri, but the Seminoles put three unanswered goals away to advance to the quarterfinals. How It Happened Once again, Erica Dambach went with her trusted starting 11 to begin the match.
Penn State Men’s Soccer Controls UMass in 4-1 Victory, Advances to Third Round Of NCAA Tournament
Penn State men’s soccer (9-1-2) knocked off Massachusetts (7-2-3) 4-1 during NCAA Tournament second round action on Sunday afternoon in Greensboro, North Carolina . The Nittany Lions opened the contest with an early, fortuitous break created by an own-goal at the expense of the UMass defense.
Penn State Women’s Soccer Advances Past Alabama State 5-0 in NCAA Tournament First Round
Penn State women’s soccer (11-2-1) dispatched SWAC champion Alabama State (8-3-2) 5-0 Wednesday evening in Cary, North Carolina in the NCAA Tournament first round. Despite Madison Roop’s best efforts in Alabama State’s goal, the Nittany Lions were ruthless in the first half. Frankie Tagliaferri scored twice, Olivia Damico and Payton Linnehan added a goal apiece, and a second half own goal led to the five-goal dismantling.
Penn State Soccer Teams Head to NCAA Tournament With Eyes on the Prize
For the Penn State men’s and women’s soccer teams, it’s time to go dancing. Both teams had impressive regular seasons that ended in Big Ten Tournament heartbreak. But in the end, it all boils down to a handful of must-win games against the nation’s elite in the North Carolina “bubble” where the NCAA Tournaments will be played. For the first time in recent memory, both Nittany Lion programs have a legitimate chance of going the distance in the NCAA Tournament.
Penn State Men’s Soccer to Open NCAA Tournament Against UMass
Penn State men’s soccer will continue its season against UMass in the NCAA Tournament’s Round of 32. The contest is set for 1 p.m. on Sunday, May 2 and will be played in Cary, North Carolina. The Minutemen had a 7-1-3 season, including a 3-3 draw against fellow tournament entrant Virginia Tech. Freshman Alec Hughes leads the squad with seven goals and two assists.
Penn State Women’s Soccer to Play Alabama State in NCAA Tournament First Round
Despite a heartbreaking defeat in the Big Ten semifinals, Penn State women’s soccer received the No. 17 seed in the NCAA Tournament. The Nittany Lions (10-2-1) will face Alabama State in the tournament’s first round at 7 p.m. on April 28 in Cary, North Carolina. No. 16 Vanderbilt awaits the winner of that contest in the second round. Alabama State went 8-2-2 this year, and won the SWAC conference title in penalty kicks against Grambling State on April 11.
Penn State Men’s Soccer Advances to Big Ten Final with 4-1 Win over Michigan
No. 2 seed Penn State men’s soccer (8-1-1) defeated No. 3 seed Michigan (6-4-1) 4-1 in the Big Ten semifinals on Wednesday night at Jeffrey Field. Danny Bloyou, Peter Mangione, and Pierre Reedy all scored, and Liam Butts grabbed his first goal of the year with four minutes to play. Penn State now will travel to top-seeded Indiana on Saturday to play for the Big Ten championship.
Penn State Swimmer Ellie Tiskus To Celebrate Teammate At THON
Every THON dancer has a unique reason for committing to the annual 46-hour event. Penn State swimmer Ellie Tiskus is dancing for her teammate, Niki Nolte. Nolte is a two-time cancer survivor who just recently returned to the pool for the first time in nearly 30 months. The junior’s journey has been a motivating factor for Tiskus and the rest of her team. “As a part of the women’s swim and dive team, Niki has been a huge inspiration to all of us,” Tiskus said.
Penn State Football Releases Updated Depth Chart Ahead Of Season Opener
Penn State football released its first depth chart of the 2020 season Tuesday ahead of its season opener against Indiana. The depth chart didn’t include star running back Journey Brown. It came out Monday night that Brown could potentially miss the entire 2020 season due to an undisclosed medical condition. Noah Cain was listed as the starting running back, while he was followed by Devyn Ford, Caziah Holmes, and Keyvone Lee.
Penn State Football's Journey Brown Could Miss 2020 Season Due To Medical Condition
Penn State football may be without star running back Journey Brown for the 2020 season. “Journey Brown is being treated for a medical condition discovered during the off-season and will potentially miss the 2020 football season,” a spokesperson for the team stated Monday night. The redshirt junior had high expectations entering the Nittany Lions’ 2020 campaign. Brown led Penn State’s running back room throughout the 2019 season, as he finished the year with 890 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns.
State College America's Second-Fastest-Growing Coronavirus Hot Spot
Shannon Soboslay | Onward State Facing rapidly rising coronavirus case numbers, State College is the second-fastest-growing metropolitan coronavirus hot spot in America, according to the New York Times. The Times‘ investigation, updated Wednesday morning, found the borough’s 763 new coronavirus cases, up from 195 a week ago, particularly alarming. State College’s relative change of 350 cases per 100,000 people ranked second among eligible metropolitan areas consisting of at least 50,000 residents.
Penn State Athletics Reports 50 More Positive Coronavirus Tests
Mikey Mandarino | Onward State Fifty more Penn State student-athletes have tested positive for the coronavirus, Penn State Athletics announced in its weekly testing report Wednesday. Between September 5 and September 11, the department administered 859 tests, resulting in 50 new positives. Athletics has administered 3,052 tests since testing began earlier this summer.
Pat Freiermuth To Play Penn State Football's 2020 Season
Penn State football’s star tight end Pat Freiermuth will play the 2020 season after all. Reports swirled last week that Freiermuth would forgo his junior season with the Nittany Lions, although neither himself nor Penn State Athletics confirmed these rumors. The star pass-catcher cleared the air Wednesday morning by crashing James Franklin’s press conference on the Big Ten Network.
458 More University Park Students Test Positive For Coronavirus
Matt Sniegowski | Onward State Penn State reported 458 more University Park students have tested positive for the coronavirus, according to the latest update to the university’s COVID-19 Dashboard Tuesday. The university administered 772 student random surveillance tests between September 11 and 14, resulting in zero positives, 552 negatives, and 221 pending tests. Meanwhile, Penn State performed 748 on-demand tests in that span, which yielded 100 positives, 271 negatives, and 377 pending tests.
Black Bear Spotted On Penn State's Campus
Penn State sent out a series of alerts Monday night warning students of a bear wandering around central campus. 01PSU AlertU-P: Black bear sighting near central campus. Please stay indoors. Authorities responding.
Lamar Stevens Discusses Favorite Penn State Memories On 'March Madness 365' Podcast
Former Penn State men’s basketball star Lamar Stevens joined Andy Katz on his “March Madness 365” podcast to discuss some of his favorite moments in Happy Valley this past Tuesday. Stevens joined the podcast as part of the “Senior Showcase,” and was featured in the episode along with Marquette’s Markus Howard.
To The People & The Place, I Love You, Goodbye: Jim Davidson's Senior Column
Sitting in the darkness of Schwab Auditorium and listening to two older students play John Mayer’s “Stop this Train” during first-year orientation is one of my earliest Penn State memories. I felt as if I was about to hop on a metaphorical train, like the one Mayer describes, of my own that week, one that would carry me from the tentative first weeks of classes to graduation.
Coming To Appreciate The End Of An Era: Emma Dieter's Senior Column
Over the years, I’ve often asked my mom, “What was your favorite age?” Without fail, my mom’s response was always, “Well, I think the age I am right now. This is a pretty great one.” As a young child, I always wanted the answer to be sometime in the future because I’m a “dweller.” By this, I mean I often find myself dwelling on the past or looking to the future for a sense of accomplishment, happiness, or gratification. So, you can imagine, that as a young child, my mom’s response was frustrating.
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