With a share of the Ivy League title on the line, over 2,000 fans turned out to watch bitter rivals Penn and Princeton battle at Roberts Stadium in Princeton, N.J.
It was a matchup of the conference’s remaining unbeatens, and after 90 physical minutes, the home team emerged victorious, 2-1. Princeton (12-3-1, 6-0-0 Ivy) scored once in each half to secure the win.
No. 13 Penn (12-4-0, 5-1 Ivy) pulled within one goal in the 86th minute when junior back Thomas Brandt received the ball in the box and stuck a hard, low shot that beat the Princeton keeper to his right.
The Quakers played well through the midfield but had trouble connecting consistently with their forwards to put them on goal.
“I think we did a good job of keeping it through the midfield. … The passes were just a little off,” Brandt said.
Penn goalkeeper Ben Berg, who had not allowed a goal in Ivy play coming into the game, was victimized by two bang-bang goals from Princeton.
But coach Rudy Fuller took no issue with the senior’s performance.
“I credit Princeton,” he said. “They got two goals against a very good defensive team.”
Princeton’s first goal came in the 32nd minute off a header from fullback Benjamin Burton. Lester Nare, who had a great game for the Tigers on the right flank, blasted a close-range shot off a corner kick. The ball deflected up and Burton directed it into the goal with his head.
Down 1-0 at the break, Penn looked like they would equalize in the second half.
“I was disappointed for our guys that they got that second goal because it came against the run of play,” Fuller said. “I really felt like a goal was coming for us.”
Princeton went up 2-0 in the 71st minute courtesy of striker Antoine Hoppenot. After gaining possession in their own defensive third, the Tigers moved the ball quickly up the field with short, crisp passes. At the top of the 18-yard box, Princeton’s Josh Walburn slid the ball past the Penn defense to Hoppenot, who took one touch and finished past Berg from close range.
However, this loss does not spell the end of road for the Quakers. They will take on Harvard at home next Saturday, and they stressed the importance of preparing for that game.
“It’s on to the next one. There’s plenty left to play for in this season,” Fuller said. “And we’re certainly thinking that we’ve got more games after the regular season to play.”
