UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.- Seniors Femi Awodesu and Peter Mangione's scoring efforts lead Penn State to a 4-0 shutout win on Senior Day. For the second consecutive home game, the duo of seniors account for two Nittany Lions goals to write a perfect Senior Day script. A pair of freshmen book ended the two senior goals with Caden Grabfelder starting the scoring for Penn State in the first half and Morgan Marshall finding a goal in the final 10 minutes.
The Nittany Lions improve to 8-3-3 overall, 4-2-1 Big Ten while handing the Wolverines their first conference loss of the season.
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Half
A sunny day at Jeffrey Field began with steady possession for both teams.
A corner kick by Matthew Henderson in the 17th minute set the ball in the Michigan defensive end. A clear attempt from a Wolverine defender found Grabfelder at the top of the box. The freshman took one touch and bent the ball with his left foot around a mass of yellow into the top left corner of the net to put the Nittany Lions up by one early.
Minutes later, Atem Kato outworked a Michigan player in its own end. His pass set up Grabfelder in the box who led Mangione in front of the goal. Mangione went to the right corner of the goal with the ball for the second Penn State point of the half.
Awodesu made an impressive defensive stop with just over five minutes on the clock, reaching out for a through ball attempt sent by a Wolverine attacker.
The score after 45 minutes of play was 2-0 in favor of the Nittany Lions.
Second Half
A pass from Mangione to Samson Kpardeh in the left corner created an offensive chance for Penn State in the first few minutes. Kpardeh's shot was just reached by the diving Michigan keeper.
Awodesu was fouled in the box to earn a penalty kick and score the third Nittany Lion goal in the 69th minute.
A pass from Mangione to Marshall through two defenders allowed the freshmen to find his first goal of the season in the final 10 minutes of the game.
The final score of the Senior Day match was 4-0.
OF NOTE
- Grabfelder scored his second goal of the season.
- Mangione's goal was his eigth of the season and 29th of his career, moving him into the top-15 all-time at Penn State in career goals.
- Awodesu notched his second goal of the season on a penalty kick.
- Marshall scored his first collegiate goal.
- Kris Shakes earned his seventh clean sheet of the season.
- The Nittany Lions outshot the Wolverines 15-6.
- This victory marks Penn State's fifth consecutive win over Michigan, four out of five at Jeffrey Field.
- The Nittany Lions have scored 15 goals on the Wolverines throughout the last five games across three seasons.
UP NEXT
The Nittany Lions host Detroit Mercy on Wednesday, Oct. 25 at 6 p.m. for their regular season home finale.