University Park, Pa. — In a week that featured the some of the nation’s best players on the nation’s top teams in action vying for NCAA postseason supremacy, Penn State junior forward Corey Hertzog (Reading, Pa.) has been singled out for his stellar play, earning national player of the week honors from TopDrawerSoccer.com and College Soccer News.
The unanimous First Team All-Big Ten selection totaled three goals, the second hat trick of his career, and one assist to lead the Nittany Lions to a decisive 4-1 win over Old Dominion in a second round contest of the 2010 NCAA Championship on Sunday.
Hertzog knotted the game at 1-1 with his first goal of the day in the 27th minute, volleying an improbable shot over the ODU defense from 10 yards out and into net. His Big Ten-best sixth game winner, a header off a cross from the nation’s leading assist leader Matheus Braga (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil), in the 73rd minute gave Penn State the lead for good. Just under five minutes later, Hertzog put the finishing touches on the Lions’ first NCAA victory since 2005, converting on his second penalty kick of the year.
In 2010, the Penn State program’s 100th-year of existence, Hertzog has fashioned the greatest offensive season by a Nittany Lion in 55 years and what could potentially stand as the best in Big Ten history. His 20 goals this season place him fourth in the Penn State record book, trailing only Bill Fiedler (21, 1957), Jack Pinezich (23, 1952), and Dick Packer (24, 1955), and in a first place tie on the Big Ten all-time list with Indiana’s Dema Kovalenko (1997) and Aleksey Korol (1999).* With 46, Hertzog ranks second on the Penn State and Big Ten season points list, trailing only Packer (50, 1955) and Korol (50, 1999), respectively.* He has already established himself as the all-time Penn State and Big Ten record holder for shots in a season, totaling 114 thus far in 2010.
Hertzog also currently leads the nation in four major statistical categories, points per game (2.19), total points (46), goals per game (0.95), and total goals (20).
Hertzog has captured national attention for his exceptional play throughout the 2010 season, receiving TopDrawerSoccer.com National Player of the Week accolades once previously (Sept. 19), Top DrawerSoccer.com Team of the Week recognition three times (Aug. 30, Sept. 19, Nov. 21), and College Soccer News National Team of the Week honors on four occasions (Sept. 5 & 19, Nov. 15 & 21). He was also named tournament MVP of the 2010 Wolstein Classic, Philly Soccer News Player of the Week (Sept. 5), and Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week (Oct. 18) for the third time in his career this season.
Penn State (14-7-1) will continue NCAA postseason play on Sun., Nov. 28 when it meets No. 2 seed Maryland (18-2-1) at Ludwig Field in College Park for a third round 2010 championship contest. Game time is scheduled for 5 p.m. A year ago, the Lions saw their season come to an end versus the Terrapins, falling, 2-1, in a second round NCAA match-up in University Park.
