PSU MSOC inks 7

[Tom McAndrew]

If I recall correctly, Jeff Cook was named PSU's coach at the end of the 2017 season. That kind of put him behind the pack for recruiting, but he was able to ink two players in the late signing period last spring.

The seven players he inked are, in essence, his first real recruiting class, or, at least the first class where he had a year to work on the class. Contacts are usually built before prospects are seniors in HS, so Cook and his staff were still working under some limitations.

Despite being hamstrung by only being the coach for one year, Cook appears to have signed a stronger class than any PSU MSOC class I can recall in recent years. 6 of the 7 players are from Development Academy (DA) teams. One of the key requirements of DA play is that players do not play with their high school team. (In some cases, they go to school at their DA.)

Cook came to PSU from the Philadelphia Union Academy, and he seems to have used that to his advantage. Two of the signees are from the Philadelphia Union Academy, and as mentioned above 4 others are from DA teams, that Cook would have seen extensively in Philadelphia Union DA competitions.

I thought it would take a few years for Cook to build back PSU's program. With this year's class, Cook appears to have taken a big first step in that direction. You can read more about the class at THIS LINK.

 

[Evan Ceg]

It may take a little time, but Jeff Cook will put the MSOC program in annual contention for the B1G championships and make occasional runs at the College Cup. If Jeffrey Field receives its planned upgrade in the next year or two, it could accelerate the process.

 

[joeparules]

My wife and I enjoy watching the PSU WSOC program as I've coached girls travel for a long time and there is a girl from my daughter's HS class that is on the team. I haven't followed the MSOC program as closely but would enjoy seeing them become more competitive and battle teams like IU for the B1G title. What is the history of MSOC at PSU? Have they ever been in the hunt for the College Cup in years past?

 

[Tom McAndrew]

I haven't followed the MSOC program as closely but would enjoy seeing them become more competitive and battle teams like IU for the B1G title. What is the history of MSOC at PSU? Have they ever been in the hunt for the College Cup in years past?

They used to be one of the top programs in the country. And since PSU joined the B1G, there have been years where they battled Indy, but always seemed to lose in OT, or some such so-close-but-not-quite result.

They reached the NCAA quarterfinals in:
1971, 1972, 1973, 1979, 1980, 1985, 1986, 1999, 2002

They reached the NCAA Round of 16 in:
1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1977, 1979, 1981, 1982, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2010, 2013

They made the NCAA tournament in:
1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2009, 2010, 2013, 2014

 

[Roar More]

My wife and I enjoy watching the PSU WSOC program as I've coached girls travel for a long time and there is a girl from my daughter's HS class that is on the team. I haven't followed the MSOC program as closely but would enjoy seeing them become more competitive and battle teams like IU for the B1G title. What is the history of MSOC at PSU? Have they ever been in the hunt for the College Cup in years past?

Penn State has a great, but distant soccer tradition. Here you go;

http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/psu/sports/m-soccer/auto_pdf/timeline.pdf