Penn State hoping to improve defensively day by day

Following a week where Penn State had a one-week break after starting out 2-2 on the season, Jeff Cook’s squad may have more questions than answers as they head into conference play in the Big Ten.

Cornell was a very stingy team this past Monday, as they held onto possession for a majority of the game, and were able to notch three goals off of the Penn State defense.

The defense struggled in a big way against the Cornell Big Red.

Cornell’s aggressive style of play, which resulted in 21 fouls for Cornell, seemed to mess with the Nittany Lions players' discipline on Monday night. It was especially shown with a huge penalty in the box that swung the momentum in Cornell’s favor.

The defense for the Nittany Lions, which consisted of players such as Mohamed Cisset, Matthew Henderson, Samuel Oveson and Morgan Marshall struggled to keep the Big Red off of the scoreboard.

The second half has been a part of the defensive equation as well, considering this is the Nittany Lion’s second time in the last three games that they have blown a game when leading after one half.

The first came against in-state rival Pitt.

“Very simply we have to get better defensively,” Coach Cook said. “I just think losing three goals at home is not going to be a recipe for success long term, and especially in Big Ten play.”

The first of the two blown leads came after holding a 1-0 lead at half by way of Christian Dionne’s goal in the first half against Pitt.

Then over a week later, after their impressive victory against St Bonaventure, the Nittany Lions after being down 1-0, came back with two goals in the first half, leading 2-1 at the break.

Once again, however, the Cornell Big Red came out with a big second-half push and the Nittany Lions were not prepared for it.

“They played really well, and they’re very committed to what they do, so we knew this was going to be a difficult game, and that proved to be tonight,” Cook said about the game Monday against Cornell.

Cook also echoed the fact that Cornell had numerous opportunities to score besides the three goals that they scored.

Two of the goals came from the clear number one player for Cornell, Alex Harris, who blew the doors off of the Nittany Lions back line with his speed and strong shot.

Urgency will be tested the rest of this season for a group defensively that has only one player, Matthew Henderson, who started every game defensively last season for the Nittany Lions.

Although players like Mohammed Cisset, Samuel Ovesen and Morgan Marshall saw tons of starting minutes for Cook’s squad last season.

For a group that won 10 games last season, and was picked second in the Big Ten for preseason soccer rankings, the slow defensive start is one that will have to be picked up.

The good news for Cook and company is the chance to reset as they enter Big Ten play this Friday when they head on the road to Michigan.

Giustino Racchini is a second-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him please email him at gar5448@psu.edu.