PREVIEW: Soccer Appears to be like to Construct Momentum at House Towards Princeton

1 month ago 3 min read

Coming off its greatest efficiency of the yr, soccer now enters the again finish of its season answerable for its future. Taking over Princeton this Saturday, Oct. 28, Cornell can stay on the entrance of the pack within the Ivy League with a win.

The Pink (3-3, 2-1 Ivy) dismantled Brown this previous Saturday, Oct. 21. Cornell jumped out to a 33-0 lead and cruised to a 36-14 win.

All three phases confirmed up towards the Bears. On offense, junior quarterback Jameson Wang threw for 330 yards. The protection stored Brown’s high-flying offense in test with three interceptions, together with one returned for a landing. And on particular groups, senior kicker/punter Jackson Kennedy picked up his third Ivy League Particular Groups Participant of the Week honors this yr after going three for 3 on subject objectives.

“He [Kennedy] is an actual bonafide weapon to attain factors,” mentioned head coach David Archer ’05. “He’s been an amazing asset.”

The Tigers (3-3, 2-1 Ivy) upset beforehand undefeated No. 23 Harvard, 21-14. Princeton held quarterback Charles DePrima to simply 152 yards passing, a 42 p.c completion proportion and three interceptions.

It has been a risky yr for the Tigers, which suffered an additional time loss to Brown previous to beating Harvard. Princeton’s third Ivy contest this season was a 10-7 win over Columbia.

The Tigers this yr is led by its protection. Princeton leads all of FCS in complete protection, at 257.5 yards per recreation, and is fourth in scoring protection at 14.8 factors allowed per recreation. This unit was on show towards the Crimson, limiting a staff that had beforehand been averaging 41.2 factors per recreation to simply 14.

“They at all times have an opportunity to be within the recreation due to what they bring about on the defensive aspect,” Archer mentioned. “We’re going to have to have the ability to transfer the sticks and put factors on the board towards a staff that not many individuals put factors up towards.”

The Tigers’ offense, against this, has been extra suspect. Princeton at present ranks seventh within the Ivy League in scoring, at 17.2 factors per recreation, and in complete offense at 321.2 yards per recreation.

The Cornell-Princeton rivalry has been pretty one-sided in recent times, with the Tigers successful eight out of the previous 9 video games. Final yr when the 2 groups confronted off, it was all Princeton, because it routed the Pink, 35-9.

With 5 groups at present sitting at 2-1 within the Ivy League, this recreation is pivotal for each groups. Cornell and Princeton management their destinies throughout the convention — successful the ultimate 4 video games of the season would assure no less than a share of the Ivy title.

“We’ve acquired to do our job one play at a time,” Archer mentioned.

Prediction: Cornell 17 Princeton 14

Regardless of the woes the Pink suffered in New Jersey final season, this yr’s staff is extra skilled, and is rounding into form following its win over Brown. With the power of Princeton’s protection, this recreation will possible be low-scoring, however the Pink will just do sufficient at dwelling to maintain tempo in convention.

Kickoff is about for 1 p.m. from Schoellkopf Discipline. The sport may also be broadcast on ESPN+.