Coming into Saturday night’s game undefeated in Ivy League play, the No. 14 Penn men’s soccer team knew it would be tough to hold on to its impressive conference record against No. 13 Brown.
The match did not disappoint, and proved to be a physical display of both teams’ defense and a question of who was going to capitalize on limited scoring opportunities.
It was Penn’s rookie forward Stephen Baker who broke through the Bears’ tough defensive display to seal the 1-0 win for the Quakers.
Just 22 minutes into play, Penn senior Aaron Ross dashed just past midfield, where Loukas Tasigianis skillfully passed the ball to Baker. With his fancy footwork, the freshman was able to get past Brown goalkeeper Paul Grandstrand and send the ball flying into the net.
Baker’s goal — the only one of the game — was all the more impressive given that Grandstrand holds Brown’s record for the most shutouts in a season and was named 2009 first team All-Ivy goalie.
The win kept Penn (12-3-0, 5-0-0 Ivy) perfect in conference play and tied at the top of the Ancient Eight standings with Princeton (10-3-1).
Quaker keeper Ben Berg’s shutout is not to go unnoticed. Berg had five saves on the night and earned his eighth shutout of the season. He is now tied for the fourth-most shutouts in a single Penn season.
Preparing for a match of this magnitude wasn’t a factor for the Quakers, even with only three days rest after losing to Penn State. Many of the players are used to such a rigorous schedule, and Penn has another crucial conference match just around the corner.
“At this time of the year, we’re not really looking to change much, we’re just looking to stay sharp and fresh and be good when the game’s on,” coach Rudy Fuller said.
After an exciting win, Baker, who hadn’t notched a goal in Ivy play before Saturday night, credited his teammates in helping him stay focused.
“They kept on telling me it doesn’t mater if you score, it doesn’t matter if you don’t score, just keep your confidence, you’re a good player,” Baker said.
Heading into this weekend’s Ivy title match at Princeton, Fuller said the biggest challenge for Penn is going to be tackling a dynamic team that can beat you in many different ways.
However, after Saturday’s display on the field, the Quakers proved that they can perform under pressure.
The Daily Pennsylvanian is an independent, student-run newspaper. Please consider making a donation to support the coverage that shapes the University. Your generosity ensures a future of strong journalism at Penn.
DonatePlease note All comments are eligible for publication in The Daily Pennsylvanian.