The Penn men's soccer team lost another heartbreaking road match on Saturday in a duel with archrival Princeton.
Despite dominating the run of play for much of the game, the Quakers could not avoid dropping their sixth straight match, 1-0.
"We were back to where we were toward the first half of the year. I thought we played well," Penn coach Rudy Fuller said.
However, unlike during the Quakers' seven-game unbeaten streak in the beginning of the season, the Red and Blue (6-8-2, 2-3-1 Ivy) could not find a way to win.
The Tigers (8-4-4, 3-1-2) claimed the match's lone goal in the 33rd minute, when Ben Young scored from 10 yards out.
"We had three or four opportunities to get in on a tackle on him, but he did well to get through and finish off a good play," Fuller said.
Young's goal was one of the few bright spots in the game for the Tigers, who had fewer shots and corner kicks than the Quakers, especially in the second half.
"We had the ball in their end and were putting pressure on their goal just about the entire half," Fuller said.
In the second period, the Quakers created five corner kicks compared to Princeton's zero.
"When you have a sizable advantage in corner kicks like that, it gives you an idea of where the game was played," Fuller said.
However, the Quakers were not able to manufacture an equalizer and were shut out for the fourth time in six games.
Once again, Penn was not able to consistently put the ball on target, misfiring off frame in seven of its 10 attempts to score.
It was yet another game in which the Red and Blue outplayed their opponent, only to see it go unreflected in the final score.
"We were very disappointed not to get the 'W' because I think everybody walked off the field feeling like we deserved to win that game," Fuller said.
After using only one substitute in the Quakers' last match against American, Fuller went back to his liberal substituting style, using five reserves throughout the match.
This was due in part to the fast-paced nature of the game.
"There was a lot of energy being spent on both sides, so we went back to going a little deeper in the bench," Fuller said.
Although Penn usually tries to control the ball, attack methodically and play defensively, Fuller felt that a wide-open game favored the Quakers.
"I felt we were a more athletic team than Princeton," he said, "so a more fast-paced up and down game, we felt we would do well in."
The Quakers were led by strong performances from freshman Derek Hobson and junior Artie Bartholomew in the midfield.
As usual, sophomore goalkeeper Daniel Cepero played an outstanding game.
"Beyond the saves, he was very sharp, he had a good command of his box, did well on crosses," Fuller said.
The loss to Princeton is Penn's sixth in the last seven years, with one tie in 2002.
The win solidified Princeton's second-place finish in the Ivy League behind unbeaten Brown, while Penn remains in sixth place.
PENN 0 0 -- 0Princeton 1 0 -- 1
First Half -- Young (Princeton) 33:02 (unassisted)
