It was a cold night in September.

Fans huddled together while watching the Penn State men's soccer team establish a 4-0 lead over the University of Pennsylvania. But, the hidden sun, cool wind and low 50-degree weather did not faze the Penn State players. They were focused on the free kick about to ensue with six minutes left in the game.

Jeffrey Field's lights gazed down on Diego Correa, an unfamiliar character in this situation -- a player who never sees much playing time on the field. John Gallagher lined up two yards away from Correa. Penn State was trying to deceive Penn by presenting two players who could possibly take the free kick.

Correa had conceded to others his whole life, and it looked as if it would happen again. Gallagher started at a run but darted past the ball -- he wouldn't take the kick. Now, Correa ran to the ball. It was his turn to shine.

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Correa is the man constantly lingering in the backdrop, and he is content with it. He is the Penn State men's soccer player who steps up when needed, walks away when he's not and doesn't raise a single complaint.

Whether the Niteroi, Brazil, native trots lightly onto the smooth, silky Jeffrey Field grass in a game or follows behind his teammates with eyes glowing, mouth unmoving, Correa always smiles.

The midfielder grins when shaking hands with Penn State men's soccer assistant coach Ryan Defibaugh before practice. He laughs when he recalls living with fellow teammates Matheus Braga, another Brazilian, and Andres Casais, a Venezuelan native. Correa beams in knowing he runs in every practice drill even though the senior has only played in five of the Nittany Lions' 18 regular season games this year.

It's just the way Correa is -- the way he matured as a boy. Seeing his father, Carlos Correa, put together barbecues with coworkers to get the group closer, or helping others by giving them money taught the younger Correa how to live. Sometimes, Correa says, he forgets about himself because he is so bound in helping his teammates or others.

"Sometimes I should look more to myself -- be a little more selfish," Correa joked.

But, Correa knows he could never do that. He's the guy who helped Braga learn English when Braga traveled from Brazil to play for Penn State.

The junior considers Correa one of his best friends today because of it. Correa remembers when Braga wasn't fluent in the language, how the team was patient with the Rio de Janeiro native, but Correa doesn't consider himself Braga's teacher.

"I did help him a little bit," Correa said. "But not that much."

Correa learned English prior to attending St. John's -- where he was a student before transferring to Penn State his sophomore year -- as a foreign exchange student in Australia. Correa has always loved to travel. Maybe that's the real reason why he went to college in America or why he transferred to Penn State.

But, Correa offers a different reason. Ricardo Villar, a Penn State player, persuaded him to come to America instead of going to school in Europe. It was something Correa had never considered before.

"He said, 'There is this opportunity in the U.S. -- get a degree while you're playing,' " Correa said.

Although Correa choose St. John's, he was not happy there, and another player at Penn State, Daniel Martini, arranged for Correa to visit to Happy Valley when he was contemplating switching schools. Correa became enamored with the Penn State campus. He loved the big-campus feel and Penn State's school spirit instead of St. John's, which was a smaller university.

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To this day, Correa is still trying to adjust to the American style. It's not that Correa isn't talented -- he is a scholarship player at Penn State. It's that he hasn't adapted to the college game.

The midfielder understands his Brazilian style of play doesn't fit the college game. In Brazil, individual players possess the ball for longer periods than the quick, constantly moving and fast-passing soccer used in American colleges. In America, players try to rid themselves of the ball by two touches when moving downfield while Brazil emphasizes one-on-one matchups.

Although the possession style doesn't fit Correa's selfless personality, he had no other choice while learning the Brazilian game. It was how he learned to compete on the hard-surfaced indoor floors while playing Futsal -- a five-on-five style of soccer played with a smaller ball and which emphasizes cleverness and resourcefulness.

His understanding attitude has been sculpted for years. As a sophomore, Correa started for an injured Lion player, Ryan Badaracco, in seven games and played in 12 after transferring from St. John's University. In those 12 games, Correa tallied three shots with one on goal.

"I did well onto a certain point," Correa said.

In his junior year, Correa didn't play in a single game because Badaracco returned from his injury. The Brazilian was happy with Badaracco returning, understood Gorman's decision and attributed his not adjusting as a possibility for the change.

Now as a senior, Correa feels his role is to provide an example and advice to the freshmen and sophomores. He has been through it all. Correa has dealt with success -- he won a Big East title with St. John's as a freshman. He has experienced being far away from home, and he has endured the hard work it takes to be a collegiate soccer player.

His example hasn't gone unnoticed at Jeffrey Field. Correa's roommate and teammate, Casais, understands his friend's role as a Lion.

Casais considers it an honor to simply know Correa. Casais sees firsthand every day Correa's work ethic. Casais perceives the limitless potential Correa will have in life because of the attitude he has taken as a Penn State soccer player.

Although Casais starts every game and plays almost every minute of every game, he knows Correa's gaze is always stationed on the field. Casais knows Correa is cheering on every tackle and clapping on every ball that bounces the Lions' way.

Correa walks to practice and brings the energy of a starting midfielder. He blends in with Casais and Penn State goal leader Jason Yeisley while jogging lightly before practice. Correa's arms sway back and forth the same way, and his feet kick up the same amount of grass as the Lions' central defender and their greatest offensive threat.

An onlooker at practice wouldn't know Correa sat on the bench in every game last year. Instead, they'd think he started in every one.

"He never gives up," Casais said. "He's a part of this team just as anybody, as the regular starters, as a regular person. The whole team loves that guy."

Braga, Correa's other roommate, has never seen Correa put his head down -- not once. If the senior's eyes are focused on the ground, it shows his humility, not thoughts of doubt or frustration. For Correa, soccer and selflessness have become one. Correa and Braga led the Lions through their homeland, Brazil, when the soccer team toured the country last May.

When Correa has time for himself, he's concentrated on soccer or studying. He'll study on Fridays. He enjoys tennis and traveling; he's been to Australia and Africa. As an Energy, Business and Finance major, Correa can see himself working for British Petroleum or Shell after college.

But, his mind won't let go of sports, and he often considers jobs pertaining to that area. Maybe that is the reason why Correa gives everything at practice -- he just can't let go.

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Under the lights of Jeffrey Field in September, Correa kicked the ball.

It sailed to the right of the wall of Penn defenders who lined up together in an attempt to stop it. Correa decided to shoot at the goalie to avoid the wall. The ball picked up momentum as Penn goalie Ben Berg dove to the ground.

It was to no avail.

The ball hit the back of the net, and was welcomed by an eruption of cheers.

Correa had just scored his first collegiate goal.

And instead of contemplating his own achievement, the senior immediately thought about celebrating with the players on the sidelines.

But before he even got to the Penn State bench, the field players engulfed him. Everyone wanted to give back to the senior because finally, after four years of waiting, Correa had received his reward.