The University of Pennsylvania men’s soccer team started off Ivy League play with a bang yesterday, defeating rival Cornell on the road in a back-and-forth overtime affair. Right from the opening whistle, the intensity and importance of the match was on display with fouls and cards being assessed evenly to both sides.

On a day when everything else in the Ivy League went right for Penn, one moment was enough to break the spirits of women’s soccer. 

Until two weeks ago, Penn men’s soccer had drawn the most matches in the country. Almost entirely unbeaten, the Quakers were also winless.

The moment the whistle blew, it was off to the races for Penn women’s soccer. The Quakers managed to put up three goals in the first seven minutes while paying a visit to American on Tuesday in their 4-0 win over the Eagles.

Penn men’s soccer head coach Rudy Fuller has had dozens of assistant coaches in his tenure at the school since his arrival 19 years ago. And out of that cast, in a true testament to Fuller’s leadership and coaching prowess, four of them have become head coaches — either at other D-I programs, or professionally.

After a demoralizing loss to Harvard last week, it was hard not to wonder if last year’s scoring draught had returned to haunt the Penn women’s soccer team.

“Ivies are another level” Coach Fuller said during his preparation for his team’s next big game. This Sunday at 4 pm, Penn’s men’s soccer team will be heading up to Ithaca to face Cornell.

Statistically, on paper, it seems as though events are repeating themselves. Penn coach Nicole Van Dyke, understandably, feels differently.

It took them seven games, but Penn men's soccer finally got it done in regulation Saturday. Emphatically.

A controversial foul call in the 29th minute proved to be the difference on Saturday, as Harvard senior Midge Purce’s penalty kick gave the Crimson a 1-0 victory over the Quakers in the Ivy League opener.

An old foe but a new attitude. On Saturday at 7pm, Penn men’s soccer welcomes cross-town opponent Drexel for the 42nd installment of a rivalry that, as coach Rudy Fuller puts it, is “unique.” What makes the Drexel-Penn rivalry so unique?

Penn men’s soccer followed I-476 with the goal of reaching Bethlehem. But, unlike the three wise men, their purpose was to take and not to give.

It’s a footrace. Penn goalkeeper Kitty Qu is off her line the second the ball slips past her defenders, but is not quick enough to see it secured into her hands.

On Saturday, the players and coaches of Penn men’s soccer were greeted by friendly faces on their opponent’s sideline.

In 2008 and 2013, Rob Irvine was on the sideline as the Penn men’s soccer team won the Ivy League Championship.

If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Penn Women’s Soccer is thinking just that heading into the weekend coming off a three game winning streak. The Quakers (3-1) will look to continue their dominance of late when they host Towson and neighbors Drexel on Friday and Sunday, respectively. The Red and Blue are coming in with loads of momentum right now, after picking up two solid wins this past weekend at Delaware and home for Lafayette.

Considering they have yet to even take their first college midterm, a pair of Penn freshman athletes had quite precocious weeks for their respective teams. Women’s soccer’s Emily Sands and Volleyball’s Caroline Furrer both picked up Ivy League Rookie of the Week Awards following high-scoring performances that led their teams to winning nonconference weekends. Sands played a part in three out of the four Quaker goals this weekend.