University Park, Pa. — Redshirt freshman goalkeeper Warren Gross (Greenfield Center, N.Y.) was honored as NSCAA Player of the Week for standout performances in Penn State's 1-1 tie with No. 2 Akron and 1-0 upset win over No. 17 Indiana last week. For Gross, the national award comes on the heels of winning Big Ten Co-Defensive Player of the Week honors and Soccer America Team of the Week recognition.
Gross was selected by a committee from a nomination pool comprised of players of the week from each NCAA Division I soccer conference.
"Warren has come up big for us when it was needed," said Penn State head coach Barry Gorman. "Knowing his competitive spirit, I expect Warren to finish out the year strongly and show everyone why he was a former US National 18 and under team goalkeeper."
In just his third career start, Gross was unfazed by the challenge of facing second-ranked Akron's high-powered offense. Against a Zips attack which had averaged over three goals a game during a 10-game unbeaten streak, Gross allowed just one. He also recorded critical six saves, including two diving saves on back-to-back up close shots in the second half, and thwarted several other Akron scoring chances with his aggressive play.
Versus Big Ten rival Indiana, Gross anchored a defense that rendered the Hoosier attack punchless for 90 minutes. He registered three saves, highlighted by a tremendous stop of a potential game-tying header late in the game. The win was Penn State's fourth in its last six meetings with Indiana.
Gross owns a 1-2-1 record as a starter and leads the team in goals against average (1.42).
The Nittany Lions will finish out regular season and Big Ten play next weekend when they travel to Ann Arbor, Mich., to take on No. 18 Michigan (11-4-2, 3-1-1 Big Ten) in a 2 p.m. game on Saturday, Nov. 8, at the U-M Soccer Complex. Penn State is 7-2-1 all-time vs. the Wolverines, including last season's 2-1 victory at Jeffrey Field. The postseason will kickoff the following weekend when the Lions begin pursuit of their fourth conference crown at the 2008 Big Ten Championship. To be hosted by the University of Wisconsin, the tournament is scheduled for Nov. 13-16 at the McClimon Soccer Complex in Madison.