Senior midfielder Jerel Blades provided three points against Monmouth as Penn men's soccer won its first opening game win in four years.
Credit: Chase SuttonIt didn’t take long for senior caption Jerel Blades to help Penn men’s soccer find the back of the net this past Friday — and it also didn’t take long for Blades to earn recognition from the Ivy League.
On Monday, Blades was named Ivy Player of the Week for the first time in his career after his three-point performance in the Quakers’ 3-2 overtime win over Monmouth.
Blades assisted on sophomore Joey Bhangdia’s goal just 69 seconds into the game, and later sent it home himself in the 17th minute to give Penn a 2-0 lead. Blades’ goal came off a ricochet from the Monmouth goalie after sophomore Alex Touche, who was the DP Sports Player of the Week, headed the ball into dangerous territory.
Blades’ night still wasn’t over, though. After the Hawks stormed back to send the game into golden-goal, Blades drew the foul that allowed Touche to score the game-winning goal off a free kick.
The Red and Blue play at home again tonight against Drexel at 7 PM as Blades will look to help Penn earn another win and add to his career totals of 6 goals and 2 assists.
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