Malvern, PA — A significant achievement has emerged from Penn State Great Valley as two enterprising graduate students—Praneeth Sunkavalli and Jainil Kakka—captured the prestigious second place for their research poster at a recent symposium organized by the Penn State Institute for Computational and Data Sciences.
Diving deep into the world of soccer, their research harnesses the power of machine learning to dissect event data related to the sport. Their focus? A defensive maneuver known as “pressing,” wherein players exert pressure on their adversaries with the ultimate goal of regaining possession of the ball.
“It’s a delightful fusion of passion and profession,” Kakka remarked, shedding light on their dual love for soccer, particularly the famed Arsenal Football Club, and their analytical prowess. The duo observed a noticeable void in the realm of sports analytics; the majority of research has predominantly concentrated on offensive strategies aimed at achieving goals, leaving defensive tactics like pressing underexplored. “Quantifying pressing success through metrics such as press recoveries and pressure success rates is pivotal for enhancing defensive performance,” they articulated.
Employing an array of data points from soccer matches—including intricate details about player positioning and movement—they meticulously quantified the vibrancy of pressing strategies, crafting models to predict success rates in game-defining scenarios. “This data serves as a vital resource for coaches to make enlightened decisions, while analysts can pinpoint decisive moments that sway match outcomes,” they added. Their research not only has implications for soccer training but could potentially extend to various other sports disciplines as well.
The students expressed their gratitude to their mentors—Dusan Ramljak, assistant professor of software engineering at Penn State Great Valley; Satish M. Srinivasan, associate professor of information science; and Nonna Sorokina, assistant professor of business at Penn State Scranton. “Your mentorship has been a cornerstone in our journey as researchers, profoundly influencing both this project and our broader academic endeavors,” Sunkavalli remarked.
In the light of their recognition from the Penn State Institute for Computational and Data Sciences, Sunkavalli reflected, “This accolade symbolizes a remarkable milestone in our research odyssey.” The duo has also showcased their findings at two other data science conferences and submitted a paper for consideration in a sports analytics journal.
“Receiving this acknowledgment at such a distinguished venue emboldens us to reach even greater heights,” Sunkavalli concluded, eyes gleaming with ambition.
