M. Soccer goes 1-1 in first action

After a weekend of playing against some of the highest ranked teams in the region, the Penn men's soccer team moved two steps closer to achieving their goal of a trip to the NCAA College Cup.

The Quakers moved up two spots in the Mid-Atlantic Region rankings Monday.

Penn -- now ranked ninth -- suffered a 1-0 loss to 21st nationally-ranked Seton Hall on Friday and a 1-0 win over Fairleigh Dickinson on Sunday in the Princeton Soccer Classic.

"It's a really nice way to get recognition," Penn freshman Erik Violante said. "It makes us a little intimidating. [The ranking] gives us confidence to go into a game saying that we are the better team."

Though the new ranking may serve as an added confidence boost, Penn coach Rudy Fuller does not put a great deal of importance in the ranking this early in the season.

"You can't put too much in rankings at this stage," Fuller said. "But we always want to be known as one of the top teams in the Middle Atlantic region."

The season opener proved to be disappointing after the Quakers held off the third-ranked team in the region, Seton Hall, for almost 78 minutes. At 70:17, Pirates' freshman Michael Zotti scored off of a pass from senior Alim Lbragimov's breakaway.

"It was kind of a harsh goal," Violante said. "We had been pretty well-organized and it's always tough to suffer a late goal."

The Pirates were looking to avenge the loss that Penn handed to them last season.

Penn goalie junior Matt Haefner recorded two saves in the net.

Seton Hall's win propelled them to a No. 3 ranking in the Middle-Atlantic region and a 21st ranking overall.

Sunday's game proved to be more uplifting for the Quakers, as they recorded their first win of the season defeating Fairleigh Dickinson.

"We were still looking to try and find ourselves," Fuller said. "It took us a little time, and we were rewarded."

The Knights advanced to the round of eight in last year's College Cup and proved to be a formidable foe for the Quakers.

The intensity of the game was evident as the battle for control of the ball raged. The game remained scoreless until the 50th minute of play when Penn sophomore Brent Plumley netted a goal after a pass from sophomore Joe Klein.

The goal resulted in a change of momentum for the Quakers, as it gave them a boost they will need for the remainder of the season.

"It gave us a lot of confidence," Violante said. "The morale really picked up."

Fuller agrees that the win provided the team with motivation going into the upcoming weekend.

"You are not going to get many chances against a team like FDU," Fuller said. "That was a big win for us."

The Quakers will return to the field this weekend in the inaugural Penn Classic on the renovated Rhodes Field. Penn will face La Salle on Friday and Drexel on Sunday.

Please note All comments are eligible for publication in The Daily Pennsylvanian.