Soccer Held to a Season Low Three Factors in Loss to Princeton

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ITHACA, N.Y. — With the Ivy League as open because it’s been in years, soccer performed a significant convention recreation this Saturday, Oct. 28 when it hosted Princeton. Each groups sat at 2-1 in convention coming into the day, and the winner can be certainly one of two groups main the Ivy League with three wins.

Although Cornell had possibilities, Princeton’s protection was dominant all through the sport, forcing two turnovers and limiting the Crimson to simply three factors. The Tigers’ two first half touchdowns, one on a 77-yard go and one with simply eight seconds left within the second quarter, have been sufficient to safe a 14-3 win, dropping the Crimson to .500 in convention.

“Two actually good groups within the league, actual heavyweight combat, notably on the line of scrimmage,” mentioned head coach David Archer ’05. “This recreation was like a playoff recreation and a bowl recreation had a child — that’s what this recreation was like. And it simply comes down to some performs.”

The Crimson (3-4, 2-2 Ivy) began the sport off with the ball and seemed to attain early, working it methodically down the sector with brief rushes and passes. After breaking into Princeton (4-3, 3-1 Ivy) territory, on the twelfth play of the drive, Cornell was confronted with a 4th and 6. Opting to go for it, junior quarterback Jameson Wang’s go went incomplete, and the Crimson turned it over on downs.

Each groups began sluggish on offense, because the Tigers and the Crimson traded punts following the turnover on downs. Princeton began its second drive of the sport by itself 23-yard line.

It took only one play for the Tigers to get on the board. With time to let the play develop, quarterback Blake Stenstrom discovered receiver Tamatoa Falatea vast open behind the Crimson’s protection on the Cornell 35-yard line. Falatea ran untouched into the tip zone, and Princeton rapidly took a 7-0 lead.

Trying to answer the Tigers’ landing, the Crimson obtained a giant increase on the opening play of its ensuing drive. Wang discovered senior tight finish Matt Robbert over the center, threading the go simply over the outstretched hand of a Princeton linebacker.

Robbert turned the catch right into a 30-yard reception, which grew to become a good greater achieve after a roughing the passer name towards Princeton. The Crimson picked up another first down earlier than stalling contained in the pink zone. Senior kicker/punter Jackson Kennedy got here out for a 31-yard subject purpose try and drilled it, chopping Princeton’s result in 7-3.

The Crimson’s protection stood tall for a lot of the second quarter, choosing up two sacks and forcing consecutive punts out of the Tigers. However, Cornell’s offense struggled equally to attain, and with simply over a minute left within the half, Princeton obtained the ball by itself 26, trying to develop the lead earlier than halftime.

Helped by a go interference name towards the Crimson and a 19-yard go, Princeton was in a position to work the ball into Cornell territory. On 1st and 10 from the Cornell 33, Stenstrom discovered receiver Luke Colella open over the center.

Colella continued to chop left after making the catch, and dove into the tip zone with eight seconds remaining within the half. The 7-play, 74-yard drive took simply 58 seconds of recreation time, and the Crimson went into the locker room trailing, 14-3.

“That was powerful, notably as a result of we aided them with a go interference name,” Archer mentioned.

Popping out of halftime, the Crimson was in a position to drive a Princeton punt. Cornell took over by itself 15, needing factors to get again into the sport.

The Crimson’s drive began off promising, with a 20-yard go from Wang to senior vast receiver Nicholas Laboy and a 13-yard rush from Wang on a third and seven to maintain the drive alive. Nevertheless, on a 2nd and 17 from the Princeton 41, freshman operating again Ean Pope coughed up the soccer after on the lookout for yards after the catch. Princeton pounced on it, and took over by itself 46.

With strong subject place close to midfield, the Tigers had a possibility so as to add to its lead. The Crimson’s protection remained stout, as senior linebacker Nic Paschall got here up with a sack on third right down to drive a Princeton punt.

The Crimson continued to wrestle to seek out offense within the third quarter, going three-and-out following Princeton’s punt. Cornell ran simply 4 offensive performs inside Princeton territory within the third quarter.

Because the fourth quarter began, the Crimson’s offense started to point out extra life. Wang accomplished passes of 12 and 26 yards, and a private foul towards Princeton put Cornell into Tigers’ territory.

The Crimson’s momentum was stunted on a primary down play from Princeton’s 21, when a double reverse obtained blown up for a nine-yard loss. Cornell in the end settled for a 47-yard subject purpose try, however Kennedy’s kick was no good, retaining the deficit at 11.

“They hadn’t proven that blitz on 1st and 10 ever,” Archer mentioned. “So I believe the method of creating the decision [the double reverse] was sound as a result of they’re quick they usually have been over pursuing..[but] for no matter motive they name an all-go blitz and it was unlucky.”

The Crimson had one other alternative to attain halfway by the fourth quarter following a Princeton punt, however on a third and 4 from the Cornell 35, Wang’s go down the appropriate sideline was picked off by defensive again Mason Armstead. The Tigers took over by itself 43 with an opportunity to place the sport out of attain.

Cornell’s protection was in a position to get one other cease, however the Tigers labored three minutes off the sport clock. The Crimson had a final gasp with simply over three minutes remaining within the recreation, however penalties as soon as once more slowed the drive. Wang made an try to the tip zone as time expired, however the go went incomplete, and the Crimson fell, 14-3.

Outdoors of Kennedy’s subject purpose, Cornell struggled to generate constant offense. Penalties and turnovers each served to stunt the Crimson’s assault, regardless of profitable the time of possession battle and accumulating extra complete yards.
“It’s an awesome studying expertise with the video games we’re going to be taking part in now,” Archer mentioned. “With the group that I believe we’re and we will present folks we’re.”

Cornell now appears to be like forward to a two-game street stretch, beginning with Penn subsequent Saturday, Nov. 4. Kickoff is about for 1 p.m., and the sport might be broadcast on ESPN+.