University Park, Pa. — Five members of the Penn State men's soccer team have been honored for their standout 2008 seasons with awards from the Big Ten Conference, the league office announced on Thursday (Nov. 13). Sophomore forward Treavor Gelsinger (Shady Grove, Pa.) was named Second Team All-Big Ten while midfielder MacKenzie Arment (Manheim, Pa.), defender Mark Fetrow (West Center, Pa.) and goalkeeper Warren Gross (Greenfield Center, N.Y.) were recognized on the conference All-Freshman team.
In the absence of star forward Jason Yeisley, Treavor Gelsinger capably filled the offensive void this season, establishing himself as a legitimate scoring threat. A starter of 17 games, he led Penn State in goals (6), points (12), shots percentage (.194), and shots on goals percentage (.548). Gelsinger scored all of his team-high six goals in the span of five games, including two-goal performaces versus Michigan State and Cornell. Gelsinger is Penn State's leading active scorer with 24 career points (9 goals, 6 assists). Next year, he will team with Yeisley to provide head coach Barry Gorman with one of the nation's most dangerous front lines.
A sign of a bright future for Penn State soccer and a tribute to the significant impact of its younger players on the 2008 season, Penn State placed three unanimous selections on the All-Big Ten Freshman team, more than any other conference squad. This marks the second consecutive season that three Nittany Lion freshmen have received the honor.
MacKenzie Arment saw action in all 19 games this season, starting six, including the final three of the season. The attacking midfielder finished the year second on the team in points with seven, tallying two goals and three assists. Arment flashed his skills immediately, tallying an assist in the first game of his collegiate career, a 2-0 victory over Central Florida. He finished the season on high note, assisting on Jacobo Vera's goal in the first round Big Ten Championship match-up with Northwestern.
Proving to be a stabilizing force on the Penn State back line from the outset of the season, Mark Fetrow was one of just two Nittany Lions to start every game in 2008. His durability and reliability was evident in the team-high 1,711 minutes played he amassed over the course of the season. An important part of Penn State set pieces due to his 6-3, 185 lb. frame, he scored his first career goal in the 1-1 tie with then-No. 2 Akron.
Warren Gross solidified the goalkeeper position for Penn State late in the season, excelling in his four straight starts. He gained conference and national acclaim after back-to-back standout performances in the Nittany Lions' tie with No. 2 Akron and 1-0 upset victory over No. 17 Indiana. For his efforts, he was named NSCAA National Player of the Week and Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week. In 573-plus minutes, Gross registered 20 saves while compiling a 1.57 goals against average.
For the second time in his career, senior midfielder Ryan Badaracco (Wexford, Pa.) was named a recipient of the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award. The honor is given to the one player from each team in the conference who best reflects the principles of sportsmanship and fair play established by the Big Ten.
A team co-captain for the season, Badaracco made a remarkable comeback from a knee injury that cost him the 2007 season, starting every game this year while finishing second in minutes played. A starter of 52 career games, the defensive minded midfielder tallied two goals and one assist. Also an excellent student, Badaracco earned ESPN The Magazine First Team All-District honors for the second time in his career this year. He graduated with honors in the spring with a degree in finance and an impressive 3.92 grade point average. Badaracco was also Penn State's 2006 recipient of the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award.