Ohio State 3, Penn State 1 http://www.gopsusports.com/pressreleases/pressrelease.cfm?anncid=4990 This is a BAD loss for Penn State. OSU has only won two games and scored six goals before Sunday. The Nitts are now 6-5 and still have to play Maryland, Indiana, Michigan and Michigan State and once-beaten Lehigh. They need to get at least three wins there to think about playing in the NCAAs.
This is a terrible loss for Penn State. The wheels are falling off the wagon here, they lost to Wisconsin and now Ohio State in consecutive Big Ten matches. Barry Gorman questioned their hearts after the Wisconsin loss, and it's disheartening that this call to arms didn't motivate them. As talented as Penn State is, however, keep in mind how young this team is. They don't really have any seniors of note, and their inexperience has shown quite a few times this year. That's not to make excuses however, this is an underachieving team that probably will not make the tournament.
Penn State Though clearly technically and tactically better, Penn State lacked any real desire on an afternoon which lacked any atmosphere or passion. When you double your season total in goals in one game, you have had a good day. I don't understand Bluem and his sideline arrogance during the game and lack of respect for the other team and the officials. Penn State continuously had the ability to open up OSU with the final pass but it was lacking every time. Credit goes to OSU for beating a team that was a lot better than them but at least OSU showed some flair in the centre midfield with Tamporello I think it is. The Big Ten does not look like a strong conference at all if Penn State is meant to be the 2nd best team and OSU middle of the field.
Penn State is an enigma this year for sure. Also notice that two of the OSU goals were scored by Freshmen. Korpieski and Rohrer (both senior All Americans last year) are first rate talents. For some reason Ohio is suddenly churning out top talent. Bluem picked up three HS All AMericans from Ohio for this fall. And despite losing Jones to SMU (well, DUH) and Eric Brunner who is headed for Maryland, he's STILL gonna end up with the pick of the crop with Xavier Balc out of Hudson (Junior All American last year and Ohio POTY) as well as Eric Kustos and probably Mark Price (adidas esp pick) as well. Now the only question is WHY?
OSU I can see how the school has the ability to recruit with the facilities and bu it's name alone but with that coaching staff and playing style I would think most good players would want to stay well away. It's just not a soccer school with a soccer history when it comes down to it and when you have a muppet for a head coach, it will stay like that. Ohio has to be in the Top 10 for soccer producing ability in the country doesn't it?