PREVIEW: Soccer Ends the Season with the Empire State Bowl

With 90 % of the season performed, soccer’s 2023 marketing campaign is almost at a detailed. Having misplaced its previous three video games, Cornell will not be in rivalry for an Ivy title, and is at the moment attempting to keep away from ending in seventh within the convention. However, with one recreation left this Saturday, Nov. 18, towards Columbia, the crew has an opportunity to enhance its convention file from final 12 months by a recreation.

The Pink (3-6, 2-4 Ivy) is coming off a 16-point loss to Dartmouth on Saturday, Nov. 11. Cornell by no means led within the recreation, and the Massive Inexperienced rushed for 196 yards en path to a 30-14 win. For the third time this season, the Pink didn’t win the time of possession battle, holding the ball for 29:10.

“It was actually disappointing, however I used to be actually happy with the hassle the youngsters performed with,” stated head coach David Archer ’05. “We’re banged up, we’re enjoying with some totally different guys in numerous positions. It’s not splendid, however each soccer crew offers with it, and the youngsters go on the market they usually play extremely exhausting.”

The season has been disappointing for a Cornell crew that had expectations of competing for a convention title. After beginning the season 2-0, the Pink went on a three-game skid. The crew beat Brown on Oct. 21 to maintain its hopes alive, however one other three-game dropping streak has left it prone to regressing from final 12 months.

“I feel in a few the video games we’ve gotten down and needed to come from behind,” Archer stated. “We confirmed we might do it towards Yale, however it’s robust to have the ability to try this. So we simply weren’t in a position to execute the way in which we would have liked to within the final three video games.”

The Lions (2-7, 0-6 Ivy) misplaced its closing dwelling recreation in time beyond regulation towards Brown on Nov. 11. Columbia tied the sport at 14 within the fourth quarter however was unable to reply to a Brown time beyond regulation landing, falling, 21-14.

Columbia has struggled greater than any crew within the convention this 12 months. The crew’s two wins got here early within the season towards Georgetown and Marist. Columbia is prone to going winless within the Ivy League, which has not occurred since Brown went 0-10 in 2018. The Lions’ final winless convention marketing campaign was in 2014.

Regardless of its woes, Columbia has been sturdy on the defensive facet this 12 months, rating second within the Ivy League in scoring protection. The Lions is holding opponents to 18.7 factors per recreation.

“We want a spark,” Archer stated. “We want to have the ability to hit some massive performs, whether or not that’s within the run recreation or the cross recreation or trick performs. We want to have the ability to present a spark after which execute within the crimson zone.”

Columbia has not had the identical stage of success on offense, rating final within the convention in scoring and whole offense. The Lions is fourth in dashing offense, however final in passing.

Although the sport has no implications within the convention, each groups nonetheless have causes to play for. Columbia is seeking to decide up a convention win to finish the season and end on a excessive observe, whereas Cornell with a win can end 3-4 in convention, bettering upon a 2-5 file final 12 months. Each groups may also have the possibility to assert the trophy that comes with successful the Empire State Bowl.

“[The Ivy League] is such a aggressive league on any given Saturday,” Archer stated. “Right here’s an opportunity to come back play our greatest, for our seniors, in entrance of their household. An opportunity to complete with a greater file within the Ivy League than final 12 months, an opportunity to win the Empire Bowl — win a trophy — one of many trophy video games over our rivals. So there’s loads to play for and loads that the seniors could be proud about how they’re pushing this system ahead.”

Prediction: Cornell 21 Columbia 17

A house finale towards Columbia is the proper alternative for the Pink to interrupt its dropping streak. On senior day, Cornell will play with coronary heart, because the protection will shut down Columbia’s struggling assault, and the offense will do sufficient to get a win.

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