Oct. 3, 2011
By Jeff Sattora, GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Countless chances had missed for Penn State all game, but with 1:21 to go in Saturday's game vs. Michigan that all changed on a header by senior defender Mark Fetrow. Fetrow finally knocked one in the net to give the team a goal and tie the game at 1-1 with time winding down.
Then it all changed again.
Michigan, who defeated Penn State twice last season, caused heartache to the Lions one more time.
The Wolverines came back down the field and scored a game winner just 18 seconds after that tying goal, giving Michigan a 2-1 win, and causing what was just pure joy for the home team seconds before to turn to disappointment.
"To score with 1:20 left you expect to close out the game and get into overtime at that point, we had a mental lapse," said senior defender Matt Smallwood. "We had a foul in the back that shouldn't have happened and at the end something happened and we just didn't clear the ball."
"We beat ourselves," Fetrow added. "You don't mark up in the box that late in the game you can't expect to win."
That foul ended up costing the Lions big as it set up a free kick, which was knocked around in front, and eventually in for the winning goal.
Just seconds before that foul and eventual goal, Penn State seemed to be poised to take the game into overtime and was riding high after the game-tying goal.
Penn State, who hadn't scored in over three games, seemed to end that drought at the perfect time.
Senior midfielder Mackenzie Arment sailed a cross to the box that was placed perfectly on the head of the 6'5" Fetrow, who put it in the goal.
The Lions originally fell behind Michigan in the 75th minute of play as the road team scored off a Lions turnover.
While Penn State was glad that they did get on the board, it didn't seem to numb the pain in any way.
"One's not good enough," Fetrow said. "We lost the game 2-1, it's not good enough."
Penn State head coach Bob Warming mentioned maturity as a possible explanation for the team's late lapse.
"Just a little bit of immaturity," Warming said. "We gave up a foul there with only one forward up high."
While the loss was disappointing, it wasn't all bad news for the Lions as Warming did walk away with some positives.
"I thought we had a great first half, I thought we passed the ball really well," Warming said.
Smallwood also mentioned how scoring the goal will give the Lions some more confidence going forward.
Penn State is looking to take any positives they can get as they take on Penn at home Tuesday night.
"It's a really big RPI game for us," Coach Warming said. "Penn is going to have an incredible RPI."
"We've got a big, big, big game against Penn," added Smallwood. "We've gotta win that game, that could keep us out of the tournament if we don't, so we're going to be confident going in and go out and get a win."
Despite the setback Penn State is looking to use that confidence and this loss as motivation against Penn in what is a big home game for the Nittany Lions.
