Men's soccer picks up first two league victories

Nearly halfway through the Ivy League season, the men's soccer team was still winless in league play. So with a must-win attitude, the Tigers rallied during Fall Break play and posted league victories against both Cornell and Penn along with one disappointing non-league loss to Bucknell.

Princeton (5-7-3 overall, 2-2-1 Ivy League) began its break schedule on Oct. 29 with a 2-0 shutout of the Big Red at Lourie-Love Field. Outshooting Cornell 8-1 in the second half, the Tigers marked their two second-half goals off the feet of senior forward Adrian Melville, Princeton's second leading scorer, and freshman midfielder Matt Care, who earned his first career notch in addition to Ivy League Men's Soccer Rookie of the Week honors.

Care first scored in the 56th minute off an assist from Melville after Care tactfully lured Big Red keeper Steve Lesser out of position on the right side before finding the back of the net. Melville then earned a goal of his own less than five minutes later when he tapped the ball just inside the right post to culminate a drive orchestrated by senior midfielder Ben Young and senior forward Darren Spicer.

Head coach Jim Barlow '91 credited a tough Princeton defense, led by defender junior Jamie Wunsch and senior goalie Bobby Guelich as well as a tight midfield, with sealing the victory in the second half.

"It started with our ball winning in the midfield," he said. "Robbie Morgenroth and Matt Care were all over the field, breaking up plays and starting the attack, and when we move the ball quickly, we can become pretty dangerous. We also had a great effort from Jame Wunsch in the back, who had one of his best games, and Bobby Guelich came up with a big save in the second half."

Bisons roam free

In their next contest versus Bucknell on Nov. 3, the Tigers hoped to use their momentum to finish non-league season play with a win at home. The Bison were fresh off a loss to American, who Princeton defeated on the road in its second game of the season.

Despite outshooting Bucknell nine to seven, The Tiger offense could not convert, losing 1-0. It was the Bisons' early goal off a free kick by Joe Mellott, which Tim Faneck headed past Guelich at nine minutes, 20 seconds, that ultimately handed Princeton the defeat.

"We gifted them a goal early in the game on a defensive mistake and then could not break down their defense," Barlow said. "We spent a lot of time in their end of the field with the ball but did not have anything to show for it."

The Tigers did manage two good looks in the closing minute and a half with a shot by sophomore forward Kyle McHugh, forcing Bucknell goalie Adam Edwards to the ground, and a header by Wunsch. An earlier offsides call took away another near-goal by Wunsch off a feed from senior midfielder Alex Reison in the second half.

Streak hits 20

With a return to Ivy League action on Nov. 5, Princeton knew a win was imperative in a crucial road game against the Quakers. Entering the game, precedent was certainly in the Tigers' favor: the last Princeton loss to Penn came in 1985. Still, the Quakers boast a strong roster this season and were eager to end their losing streak.

"Penn moves the ball as well as anyone we play," Barlow said.

The Tigers successfully reasserted their historic dominance over the Quakers, however, by sparking late in the second half to overcome a 1-0 Penn lead and go on to win the game, 2-1.After a scoreless first half, the Quakers graced the scoreboard first when Mike Klein fired the ball into the goal with little defensive pressure midway through the second half.

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Young returned the favor in the 81st minute by hitting a rocket shot from several yards outside the 18-yard box off a pass from Melville. Spicer, Princeton's leading scorer, then knocked in his sixth goal this season with 4:25 left to play off another assist by Melville.

Defensively, Guelich held strong in net with five saves.

The win marked Barlow's 75th victory during his 10-year tenure as coach and keeps the Tigers' hopes of finishing second in the Ivy League alive, if they can continue their current 2-0 Ivy League streak and win their final two league contests.