After a bad game, the last place most athletes want to be is the field. Not Penn State soccer star Chad Severs.

The work ethic that has led the sophomore forward to a team-leading seven goals was in place when Chad was only seven years old playing on a 10-year-old travel team, his father Wayne, recalls.

"He never stopped," the proud father says. "He had to go back to the field before we got home."

Once on the field, Severs -- determined to go home a better player than the one that left the game dejected -- told his father to stand in goal while he drilled 20-30 shots.

At an age where most children are still religiously watching cartoons, Severs was thinking soccer 365 days a year. Thanksgiving and Christmas were no exceptions. Instead of a second helping of turkey and instead of tearing open gifts, Severs was asking his father to kick the ball around out in the backyard.

"Since he was born, he had a knack for the game," the elder Severs says. "Ever since three or four, he never needed to be pushed. He's always had that desire."

Severs' dedication paid off. The Jersey native would go on to become a force in high school soccer, scoring 159 career goals for Ocean City (N.J.) H.S. By the end of his high school career, he would fall just two goals shy of tying
the New Jersey scoring record set by United States World Cup star Tab Ramos.

From age five up until high school, Severs was a cobra on the soccer field -- dangerous and ready to strike.

"He always played with this possession," his father remembers. "Something was going on in him. I would tell him he was a man possessed -- a kid possessed."

In addition to being named first-team Associated Press all-state, Severs racked up six player of the year awards during his tenure from The Philadelphia Inquirer (2), the Atlantic City Press (3) and the Courier Post (1).

Severs' dismantling of high school teams caught the attention of Penn State men's soccer coach Barry Gorman. A spot with the Nittany Lions was his to lose.

Not only did Severs keep his spot on the team, he started all 20 games for Penn State last year, scoring five goals -- second to only former teammate Ricardo Villar, who has since joined the professional ranks. Severs was tabbed Big Ten Freshman of the Year, the first Penn Stater to accomplish the feat since Rich Wilmot in 1993.

With the loss of All-Americans Derek Potteiger and Villar, the 5-3 Nittany Lions have turned to Severs and he's responded, scoring seven goals in Penn State's first eight games.

"Chad is a very hardworking player," Gorman says. "He comes to practice looking to improve. He wants to get better."

It's hard to see where Severs could get any better. In the Lions' season opener against Richmond -- a 2-1 double-overtime loss -- he scored Penn State's lone goal. He followed that up by netting two more goals that same weekend against East Carolina to ice a 4-2 Penn State victory. Severs' fifth goal of the season helped carry the Lions to a shocking 4-2 upset over then-No. 3 Virginia.

Severs, a tribute to the motto that if you work hard enough, you'll get what you want, is looking at his start as something to build on for the upcoming grueling schedule.

"It feels good to get off to a good start, but there's still more games to play," Severs says. "I've got to improve on it. It's a long season. I have to stay consistent."

If Severs does stay consistent -- watch out. With seven goals already, former Penn State soccer player Dick Packer's season goals record of 24, which has stood for almost fifty years, is within reach.

"He's right there nationally," Severs' father says. "If he goes out there and puts in a hat trick -- God Almighty -- he's in for a monster season."

Don't let his age fool you. Although he is a sophomore, Severs acts as an older player utilizing what he has learned from playing alongside Potteiger and Villar and seniors Brent Jacquette, Ben Dawson and Jorma Makipaa.

"I think Chad brings more maturity to the team," Gorman says. "He started every game last year. He's the kind of player that will learn from that."

Scoring is not enough as Severs hopes follow in the footsteps of Potteiger and Villar and lead the Lions deep into the playoffs.

"I need to step up into a leadership role and lead by example," Severs says.

Seven goals in eight games isn't a bad example to follow.

With 11 games remaining on Penn State's regular-season schedule, Wayne Severs doesn't see any signs of his son letting up.

"He was able to get through to this point, and he's not done yet," he says.