Early in the first half, Penn midfielder Alex Grendi displayed remarkable footwork, dribbled past two defenders, put a shot on goal that got past Penn State goalie Conrad Taylor -- and watched it fly over the net.
It was a sign of things to come for the Quakers, who played another solid game but gave up a goal with 37 seconds left to fall to Penn State 3-2 in double overtime.
One costly miscue late in the second overtime turned out to be the deciding factor.
Penn had a corner kick and got caught in a defensive lapse when the ball was cleared out towards midfield. It could not keep the ball in its zone, and Penn State had a wide open breakaway with no Quakers in sight.
Goalkeeper Drew Healy was forced to make a play on the ball, which he did. But he also made a play on the man. He was given a red card and ejected, since he was the last man defending.
"That's one of those things where you've just gotta make a decision," Healy said. "It just ended up happening like that so I just tried to make the play outside the box."
Sophomore keeper Kevin Sweetland came in to try to close the game out, but with 37 seconds left Penn State's Frank Costigliola crossed the ball to the far post and Jason Yeisley headed it past Sweetland.
Penn came out with yet another disappointing loss despite playing Penn State evenly throughout the first half. The game went into half time tied at zero.
"I think we came out and played really well," Healy said. "We worked really hard, we moved the ball fast and I think it was a hard fought game that went back and forth."
However, the start of the second half did not go the Quakers' way, as they gave up the first goal of the game less than three minutes into the half.
But three minutes later, forward Andrew Ferry tied the game as he got by Taylor and put the ball in the wide open net for his first goal of the season.
Down 2-1 with nine minutes left to go in regulation, the Quakers got a free kick a few yards outside the box. Keith Vereb kicked the ball over the defenders, bending it David-Beckham style into the left corner of the net to send the game into overtime.
"I think that was one of those special moments where all his hard work paid off," Healy said.
All of the momentum that Vereb gained for the Quakers led them into overtime, but Penn State managed to control the entire first overtime.
"They came out with a lot of energy and deserve a lot of credit for that," Penn coach Rudy Fuller said. "I think that we were fighting ourselves with fatigue and we did well to get through the first overtime."
As the second overtime started, the Quakers gained some energy and played inspired soccer. They again matched Penn State's intensity, winning most 50-50 balls. But one small slip-up cost Penn the game.
Despite the finish, Fuller still has yet to count his team out: "A result like tonight will either break you or make you stronger and I think that we have a group that is going to take it in the positive way."
