Brandywine Looks to Maintain Men's Soccer Dominance Against New Crop of Challengers
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The 2021 PSUAC Men's Soccer Playoff tournament will begin this Wednesday, October 27th with a pair of quarterfinal matches before the weekend's semifinal sets. The playoffs are once again headlined by Penn State Brandywine, who has won six of the previous seven titles dating back to 2013.
A trio of new challengers looks to dethrone the reigning champions, while two mainstays in the PSUAC playoff scene hope to finally reach the championship pinnacle. Check out our preview below of the qualifying teams and check out our Championship page for more information.
The tournament will continue with semifinals on Saturday, October 30th and culminate with the PSUAC Championship game on Wednesday, November 3rd at 4 p.m. at the West Turf Fields on the University Park campus.
Championship Page
#1 Penn State Brandywine (14-3-3 overall; 9-0-1 PSUAC)
1st round bye; Hosts winner of New Kensington/Mont Alto in a semifinal on Saturday, October 30th
Despite a year off due to COVID-19 cancelling last fall's season, Brandywine has found itself back at the top of the conference once again. The Lions were undefeated in PSUAC play, with their only blemish a tie with number two seed Penn State Lehigh Valley. The third-ranked team in the USCAA, Brandywine enters the postseason with a seven-game winning streak and is 9-0 when defending their home turf. Led league in goals and goals against average.
Players to watch: Alex Sydor (23 goals, 10 assists); Axel Ayllon-Ortiz (Prior All-Conference selection); Joey Cairy (10 goals, 8 assists); Eli DeBooth (6-1-1 in goal, 7 shutouts, .818 save percentage)
#2 Penn State Lehigh Valley (9-5-1 overall; 8-1-1 PSUAC)
1st round bye; Hosts winner of Beaver/Greater Allegheny in a semifinal on Saturday, October 30th
Despite their first season as a program being in 2018, plus a full year missed due to the pandemic, Penn State Lehigh Valley has quickly vaulted to the top of the PSUAC. A midseason tie with Brandywine had them sitting at the top of the league until a loss at Penn State New Kensington just a week later. Lehigh Valley bounced back with two straight conference wins to finish 8-1-1 and grab the other first round bye. The Lions have lost three of their previous five games so will look to get back on track when they host a semifinal match on Saturday. Second in the PSUAC in goals against average.
Players to watch: Jack Montesdeoca (10 goals, 4 assists); Cadeyn Muthard (6 goals, 5 assists); Kenneth Dyer (GK)
#3 Seed Penn State New Kensington (11-4 overall; 8-2 PSUAC) vs. #6 Seed Penn State Mont Alto (8-10 overall; 5-5 PSUAC)
Wednesday, October 27th, 3:30 p.m.
Our first quarterfinal will see Penn State New Kensington host Penn State Mont Alto in a rematch of their October 2nd regular season contest. New Kensington got the better of Mont Alto on the road, taking home a 2-0 victory. New Kensington looks to take another step as a program, as they have been perennial contenders for a playoff spot. Now near the top of the standings they have an opportunity to make some more noise. New Kensington split their games with the top two seeds, beating Lehigh Valley but falling to Brandywine this past Saturday.
Mont Alto looks to keep their three-game winning streak going. Having won five of their last six games, the Lions carry one of the best late season finishes of any team in the field.
Players to watch: Jacob Guerrini (NK, 20 goals, 6 assists); Brady Braun (NK, 7 goals, 7 assists); Aiyman Alsibae (MA, 8 goals, 5 assists); Bryce Kylor (MA, 5 goals, 6 assists); Cole White (MA, 4th in save percentage)
#4 Seed Penn State Beaver (11-5 overall; 7-3 PSUAC) vs. #5 Seed Penn State Greater Allegheny (10-6 overall; 7-3 PSUAC)
Wednesday, October 27th, 3 p.m.
Wright Field, Veterans Park Stadium
The last team to win a conference title not named Brandywine, Penn State Beaver will host rising program Penn State Greater Allegheny on Wednesday, October 27th. Beaver squeaked out a win in their October 5th match-up, scoring two goals in the final 20 minutes of action to take home a 2-1 win on the road. Beaver is a solid 7-1 at home this season and its three conference losses were to the three teams above them in the standings. Greater Allegheny owns a three-game winning streak, including an important 3-2 win over Mont Alto that secured a playoff spot and nearly a home game.
Players to watch: Mishael Garcia (BR, 22 goals, 9 assists); Jake Ross (BR, 14 goals, 1 assist); Nadeem Shakshir (BR, 11 goals, 6 assists); Alex Hart (BR, .761 save percentage, 1.89 GAA); Chris Klinger (GA, .808 save percentage, 2.10 GAA), Stuart Dare (GA, 11 goals, 5 assists); TJ Knutson (GA, 11 goals, 8 assists); Abdi Abdalla (GA, 9 goals, 3 assists)