State College, Pa. - The 2017 Saint Francis men's soccer team (2-2) has a busy week with a 7 p.m. start at Penn State on Friday, Sep. 8, before returning home to face Colgate on Sunday, Sep. 10, at 3 p.m.
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Scouting Penn State
The Nittany Lions sit 0-1-2 after a loss to Hofstra and draws with UC Irvine and Loyola Marymount. Sophomore Aaron Molloy has scored both Nittany Lions goals in his first season with the team. Penn State's opponents are outshooting the Nittany Lions 54-31.
Series History
Saint Francis is just 2-11 all-time vs. the Nittany Lions but has won two of the last three meetings with the in-state rival including a 3-1 triumph last season behind two goals from
Troye Kiernan (Pittsburgh, Pa./Upper St. Clair).
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Scouting Colgate
The Raiders have responded nicely since opening the season with two losses to America East opponents Binghamton and New Hampshire, notching wins last week over Northwestern and Princeton. First team All-Patriot League and NSCAA Third-Team All-Region midfielder Jared Stroud is the focal point of the attack with three assists. Colgate enters the week riding a streak of 192 + minutes without being scored on.
Series History
Colgate defeated Saint Francis 2-0 last season and is 2-0 all-time vs. the Red Flash.
Keep an Eye on Kiernan
Senior
Troye Kiernan (Pittsburgh, Pa./Upper St. Clair)'s senior season is off to a flying start as he leads the conference in points with nine on three goals and three assists. A Second Team All-NEC selection in 2016, Kiernan has amassed 23 points for his career.
Piling on the Shots
Saint Francis has been the more aggressive team in all four of its games this season. The Red Flash has outshot its opponents 58-31 through four games, leading in the shot totals in all four contests. Senior forward
Mario Mastrangelo (Venetia, Pa/Peters Township) leads the way with 13 shots. SFU hasn't been wasteful with its opportunities. The Red Flash rank t-7th in the NCAA with 11 goals scored and T-9th in goals per game at 2.75 per game.
Attention-Grabbing Win
Saint Francis's 5-3 win over No. 20 Old Dominion on Friday night was its first over an opponent ranked in the NSCAA Coaches' Poll since it defeated No. 25 Monmouth 1-0 in 2011. SFU's victory over Penn State in 2013 was when the Nittany Lions were ranked No. 19 in the RPI, but receiving votes in the coaches' poll.
Campbell's Homecoming
New Saint Francis assistant coach Shane Campbell will return to Penn State on Friday on the opposite bench. He played for the Nittany Lions from 2012-13, scoring two goals.
