The Heir to Kyle Renfro At Goalkeeper: Josh Penn

Jan 14, 2014; Lauderhill, FL, USA; Predator goalkeeper Kyle Renfro (11) reacts against the Adizero during the first half at Central Broward Regional Park. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

The Virginia Tech Men’s Soccer program has had some success over the past few season and had a lot of consistency at one position in particular, goalkeeper. That player was Kyle Renfro who was one of the more dominant goalkeepers in the ACC for the last few seasons and was the Virginia Tech starter for every game all of the last three seasons. Renfro was a rock in goal for the Hokies for three year but he graduated recently and the Hokies now have to move on to his replacement.

Enter redshirt sophomore Josh Penn.

Josh Penn is 6-1 which is the same height as Renfro but that is where most of the similarities end. As a freshman, Renfro started 7 games in goal as a freshman but Penn has not played a single minute for the Hokies after being redshirted in 2012 and Renfro playing every game in 2013, leaving Penn on the bench. Penn is also almost 30 pounds lighter than Renfro and will probably will need to get stronger which should also help him with gaining more power on his punts while also making him more explosive in diving to make a save.

However, Penn was rated as one of the top-22 players in the D.C. Metro area coming out of high school by ESPNHS. Penn was also a lot more successful at the travel soccer level as he won one Virginia State Cup and advanced to the State Cup semifinals three times while being the Regional FC starting goalkeeper. Of course, what will matter for the Hokies is whether Penn can get the ob done at the collegiate level and hopefully, Josh Penn will do exactly that.

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