UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. (September 6, 2012) – The No. 22 West Virginia University men’s soccer team played to a 0-0 double overtime draw at Penn State on Thursday evening at Jeffrey Field.

Freshman Andy Bevin, junior Craig Stephens and seniors Travis Pittman, Eric Schoenle and Shadow Sebele each recorded two shots apiece for the Mountaineers.

“We really created a lot and right now we’re just in a bit of a scoring funk,” coach Marlon LeBlanc says. “I think it would be more disappointing if we weren’t creating anything. Tonight we had a lot of opportunities and their goalkeeper came up with two big saves and got help from the crossbar once.”

West Virginia held the corner kick advantage at 4-2, while the teams had 13 shots apiece.

“We really pushed for the win, which opened us up a little on the counter and we dodged some bullets,” LeBlanc says. “They’re a good team, but I thought we played very well and deserved at least a point on the road.”

Stephens had the only shot on goal in the overtime periods, as he headed a throw-in from freshman Zak Leedom wide left in the 108^th minute.

The tie brings WVU’s recorded to 2-2-1, while Penn State now has a 2-1-1 record.

Pittman registered the first shot of the game in the 11^th minute on a restart taken by Sebele. Sebele sent a free kick into the box that bounced to Pittman, who hit a half-bicycle kick just high.

A minute after entering the game, freshman Kyle Underwood made his presence felt as he took a shot that Penn State keeper Andrew Wolverton gathered. Freshman Nick Raskasky initiated the play by sending a cross into the box that was headed by Stephens to the feet of Underwood.

Owen Griffith had the Nittany Lions best chance of the first half in the 35^th minute on a shot that went just wide left of the net and WVU senior keeper Pat Eavenson.

The teams went into the locker rooms tied in shots (4-4), while WVU held a 2-0 advantage in corner kicks.

Pittman had the first chance of the second half in the 65^th minute as he ripped a shot from 25 yards out that Wolverton made a sprawling dive to his right to knock out of bounds.

Less than two minutes later sophomore Andy Bevin received a long cross from Raskasky, but headed just over the crossbar.

Penn State began to pressure the WVU defense in the 80^th minute as Penn State’s leading scorer, Julian Cardona, had a breakaway opportunity that Eavenson stopped.

The momentum shifted back towards the Mountaineers in the 85^th minute as Sebele headed a cross from Bevin off the crossbar.

Penn State’s Daniel Burnham could have ended it with 30 seconds left as he had a shot right in front of WVU’s open net that he flicked wide right.

Eavenson earned his second shutout of the season and fifth of his career by making two saves for WVU.

The Nittany Lions were led by three shots from Griffith and Wolverton made four saves for the shutout.

The Mountaineers return home for a four-game homestand that begins with a match against Oakland on Sunday, Sept. 9, at 1 p.m. For live stats and video stream of the match courtesy of Kroger, visit WVUsports.com.

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