University Park, Pennsylvania---The St. Francis Brooklyn men’s soccer fantastic season came to a close on Thursday evening as they fell to the #16 ranked Penn State, 1-0, on Thursday evening in the First Round of the 2013 NCAA Division I Men’s Soccer Championship.  The Terriers, the 2013 Northeast Conference champions, finish the season 12-6-1 while the Nittany Lions improve to 12-5-2 and will take on the #10 seeded UC Santa Barbara Gauchos on Sunday in Santa Barbara. 

“First, I’d like to say that Penn State did a first class job in hosting,” said head coach Tom Giovatto. “As for the game, the boys played really well tonight. We turned up the intensity in the second half.  We did a great job keeping the ball and creating some chance but unfortunately, tonight, we couldn’t find the back of the net.  Penn State is a very good team.  I am happy that the guys, especially our seniors, got to experience this and we can head back home with our heads held up high.”

“It was a great experience to play in a big game like this,” commented senior forward Gabriel Bagot.  “We came out more aggressive in the second half but just couldn’t capitalize on some chances.  It was a great experience to play in the NCAA’s.”  Bagot finishes his Terrier career with twenty-five goals, good for tenth all-time in program history along with 13 assists, which is good for 12th all-time and his 63 career points are good for 11th in Terrier history. 

“This season has been very successful one,” commented junior goalkeeper Jack Binks.  “The success brought us closer together as a team.  Winning the NEC Championship created a bond that we will always remember and cherish.  It was an amazing experience to represent our school, our conference and each other.”

“I’m extremely proud of our team,” said junior co-captain Andy Cormack. “We now have this experience under our belts and our focus will be to work harder in the offseason and train harder to come back and experience this again next season.”

Penn State almost tallied the first goal of the contest in the ninth minute off a well-timed combination play between Jordan Tyler, Drew Klingenberg and Owen Griffith.  Tyler had some space and fired a shot from approximately fifteen yards out stopped by Terriers’ junior goalkeeper Jack Binks. 

A minute later, after a long run by senior forward Gabriel Bagot, the fourth-year Terrier fired a shot attempt that was denied by Penn State’s keeper, Andrew Wolverton to keep the score deadlocked at zero.  The tempo of the game remained even before the Terriers had another chance in the 25th minute. 

Senior midfielder James Caicedo booted a left-footed shot attempt just from the right side of the box that was stopped by Wolverton.  In the 32nd minute, Bagot centered the ball and sent a left-footed attempt deep in the zone but was stopped by Wolverton.  On the next Penn State possession, Mark Wadid let a shot go to the far left post.  Teammate Eli Dennis nearly was able to locate the bouncing ball but couldn’t convert on a shot attempt. 

Dennis and the Nittany Lions converted on their chance in the 37th minute as Drew Klingenberg was able to locate Dennis off cross and Dennis converted from eight yards to give the host Nittany Lions the 1-0 lead.  St. Francis tried to tie the score as Michael Collis’ header attempt sailed wide of the goal and the Terriers found themselves trailing. 

St. Francis Brooklyn controlled much of the tempo in the second half of play and nearly found the equalizer in the 57th minute as Kevin Correa took the free kick from 35 yards, similar to the chance he took during the 2013 Northeast Conference Tournament which resulted in four goals.  The Flushing native’s attempt curled toward the goal and smacked the left post. 

With just under eight minutes left, St. Francis Brooklyn had a golden opportunity as Bagot was unable to get a foot on a loose ball at the top of the box with Wolverton caught out of position.  The ball eventually bounced to Correa but his attempt was fired right at Wolverton for an easy save. 

Shots on goal were all even at ten and Binks made two saves in the match.  The hosts took five corners compared to just one by the Terriers.  Despite the loss, the Terriers were in this match after clinching their first Northeast Conference championship in 15 years and boasted a 4-1-1 mark at their new facility, Brooklyn Bridge Park, Pier 5.