Entering the men’s soccer team’s showdown with Columbia, coach Rudy Fuller emphasized the importance of containing Lion’s star striker Bayo Adafin.
After all, Penn’s defensive unit had struggled to contain high-profile attackers in its only two prior losses. They allowed Penn State star Jason Yeisley to score twice in a 5-0 loss and J.T. Noone to be a major factor in a 2-1 loss to Temple.
So in one respect, the Quakers were extremely successful in holding Adafin scoreless on only one shot.
However, it was unheralded freshman Nick Scott — who only had three points entering the game — that turned out to be the deciding factor in Penn’s 1-0 loss to the Lions Saturday.
With only ten minutes left in regulation, Scott drew a penalty in the 18-yard box to set up a penalty kick that was converted by junior Peppe Carotenuto.
The tally broke a scoreless tie and propelled the Lions (3-5-1, 1-1-0 Ivy) to their first Ivy win of the season.
But the Quakers (4-4-3, 0-1-1) had several opportunities throughout the game to add a goal of their own.
In the 28th minute, Travis Cantrell hit the post on a shot from near the touchline. In the 63rd minute junior Loukas Tasigianis lofted a seemingly perfectly placed shot that was pushed over the cross bar by sophomore goalkeeper Alex Aurrichio — one of his five stops on the night.
In the end, however, gradual pressure by the Lions’ offense, which outshot Penn by a 13-9 margin, was enough to wear down the Quakers in a low-scoring contest that was marked by highly physical play.
The referees called 21 fouls and awarded three yellow cards — two of which went to Penn players. Although the Lions were whistled for twice as many fouls as the Quakers, it was the foul in the box that ultimately gave Columbia the advantage.
The team next faces Amercian Tuesday as it will attempt to regroup in its last non-conference matchup before its final five Ivy League games.
(Fuller could not be reached for comment.)
