Text Box: Barry Gorman will enter his 14th season as the head coach at Penn State in 2001. During the past 13 years the Nittany Lion’s overall record has been 177-90-19 including two conference championships in the Atlantic 10 (1988 and 1989) and one in the Big Ten (1993). Penn State has become a perennial contender on the national level receiving invites to the NCAA Tourney in 1988, 89, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 98, and 99. In 1998 the Nittany Lions advanced to the final sixteen in NCAA Tourney action and in 99 they advanced to the final eight. The Nittany Lions slipped to a 13-6-2 record during the 2000 season but the return of eight starters plus All American Ricardo Villar who injured his ankle in the first game of the 2000 season and set out the entire year should provide the foundation for considerable improvement in 2001. The extent to which that improvement will translate into wins is somewhat difficult to predict based on the unexpected difficulties Penn State experienced in 2000 and the fact that the Big Ten Conference will be stronger from top to bottom in 2001 than ever before. Since 1991 Indiana University has dominated the Big Ten recording a 45-4-2 (.902) record. Penn State has the second best record in Big Ten play with a 30-14-3 record (.618) since 1991. But times are changing. As Ohio State demonstrated in 2000 when they upset Indiana and then defeated Penn State 3-2 in overtime to win the Big Ten Conference Tournament, it is going to be more than a two team race from now on. The programs at Ohio State, Michigan State, and Wisconsin are improving and common sense tells you that the entry of the University of Michigan into the Big Ten will have a long range impact on the uniform that some players end up putting on. However, if Penn State stays healthy, if their sophomores in particular come through, and if they can get a little help from their new recruits, then the Nittany Lions are likely to have the type of season in 2001 that they had initially hoped for in 2000. Success is often a relative measure determined primarily by expectations and past performance. Although the Lions had a good season in 2000, their 13-6-2 record did not meet their own expectations based upon their success of the past. They entered the 2000 season with definite hopes of a run to the College Cup, a Big Ten Title, and they were looking forward to thumping Big Ten rival and perennial nemesis Indiana University. None of those things happened. Penn State was ranked #5 in Mad Dog College Soccer’s Preseason 2000 Poll and #6 in the NSCAA Preseason Poll. They advanced all the way to a number one ranking in the Mad Dog College Soccer Poll in 2000 and to a number two ranking in the NSCAA Poll before suffering a series of losses that dropped them from national contention. Having said that let’s look at Penn State and the 2001 season. The Nittany Lions will be without the services of graduating seniors Pete Shellenberger (4g, 4a), Matt Leahy (0g, 5a), and Nathaniel Krumpe (1g, 0a). Shellenberger and Leahy were midfielders. Krumpe was a midfielder/defender. Shellenberger was an All Big Ten selection who anchored the Penn State midfield. Leahy added balance and experience to the midfield. Krumpe, a four year letter winner, was a team leader and tough competitor. All three of the departing players contributed significantly to the success of the Penn State program during their tenure. Coach Gorman has a lot of reasons to be excited about the 2001 season as Penn State returns a very talented and experienced group of competitors and he has signed a very capable group of recruits. Let’s begin with the attack. In 2000 Penn State scored a total of 39 goals. Thirty five of those goals were scored by players who are scheduled to return in 2001. The return of forward Ricardo Villar who was granted a medical redshirt for the 2000 season is a big plus for the Penn State attack. Villar lead Penn State in scoring in 1999 with 13 goals and 9 assists. Villar is an impact player. Had he not sustained an injury in 2000, it is highly likely that Penn State would have fared much better last year. However, last season’s loss is this season’s gain. Another big plus for the Nittany Lions is the return of All-American senior midfielder Derek Potteiger (13g, 6a). The combination of Villar and and Potteiger will add balance and creativity to the Penn State attack. Potteiger is a prime time player with the speed and ability to break a game open. Brett Forbrich (4g, 4a), Brett Jacquette (3g, 4a), Greg Oldfield, (2g, 1a), and Josh Castillo (0g, 1a) also return to give Penn State a very talented and quick midfield. Look for Forbrich, Jacquette to come up big for Penn State in 2001. Sophomores Nic Shahay (2g, 5a), John Fisher (3g, 2a), Dale Jordan (2g, 0a) return up top for Penn State. Fisher, an NSCAA High School All-American and the New York player of the year in high school, is a very capable finisher. Shahay had an impressive freshman season that unfortunately end prematurely when he tore his ACL late in the season. Expect Shahay to have a positive impact on the Nittany Lion attack in 2001. Freshman forward recruit Chad Severs had a very celebrated high school career and could possibly have an immediate impact up top. Penn State allowed opponents to score only 23 goals in 2000. When Penn State played solid team defense they won. For example, with one exception, they won all of their games in 2000 when they held their opponent to one goal or less. The lone exception was a 1-0 loss to a very good University of South Carolina team. The Nittany Lions will enter the 2001 season with a solid core of experienced defenders. For starters, Junior Ryan Sickman (GAA .92) returns in goal. Sickman was a bit of a question mark experience wise going into the 2000 season but that will not be the case going into 2001. Senior captain Jorma Makipaa, junior Ben Dawson, senior Chris Stout, sophomore Nat Francis, and sophomore Peter Barkhoff provide Penn State with a very competent core of defenders. If they play to their potential, they will be able to hold their own with any team in the country in 2001. Coach Gorman recently announced the signing of seven recruits for the 2001 season. Gorman has indicated that many of the newcomers will have the opportunity to contribute immediately. The recruits include Gabe Bernstein an All-State midfielder from Montclair Kimberly Academy in New Jersey, midfielder Michael DeRemer from Harrisburg Academy in Womleysburg, Pennsylvania, Trevor Gorman a solid midfielder from the State College Little Lions in State College, Pennsylvania, Aaron Musser a 6’1” goalkeeper from Collierville, Tennessee, forward Adilson Puna from Columbus High School in Miami, Florida and Bellhaven College in Jackson, Mississippi, forward Chad Severs an All-State selection from Ocean City High School in New Jersey, and Joe Zewe a strong forward who is a very good finisher from East Allegheny High School in Pennsylvania. The 2001 season should be an exciting one as Penn State enters its 91st year of men’s collegiate soccer. The Nittany Lions face a very tough schedule that will test them early. They will have a very challenging month of September beginning on September 2 when they face a very strong South Carolina squad. On September 23 they face another non-conference powerhouse in Creighton University and on September 28 they square off with Indiana University in a crucial Big Ten Conference match. Ohio State on October 14 and Michigan State on October 21 will also be crucial Big Ten Conference match ups.