Princeton can't find net in Ivy League losses, finishes seventh

A team can play defense mighty well, but if it does not score, it cannot expect to win. Such was the case for the men's soccer team, which lost both its games over fall break, scoring a combined zero goals in losses to Ivy rivals Cornell and Penn to end its season.

Princeton (6-8-3 overall, 1-5-1 Ivy League) dropped a 2-0 contest to Cornell (4-8-3, 3-3-1) in Ithaca, N.Y., on Oct. 28. The Big Red opened a one-goal lead in the 42nd minute with a strike from forward Matt Bouraee, and doubled its lead in the 47th minute on a penalty kick from midfielder Brian Kuritzky.

After a relatively even first half, Cornell played a cross into forward Dan Marks, whose header towards goal seemed harmless until Bouraee got a foot on it to evade Oppenheimer.

Only two minutes after halftime, Princeton was called for a foul inside the penalty area, leading to Kuritzky's insurance goal.

The Tigers would apply good pressure for the remainder of the game — generating four shots over the course of the final 40 minutes — but the Cornell keeper thwarted all attempts, giving Cornell its first win over Princeton since 2002.

Cornell outshot Princeton, 13-9, while putting six of its attempts on target to the Tigers' four. Junior midfielder Robbie Morgenroth, sophomore midfielder Brad Fetcher and senior defender Dustin Kahler each had two shots, while Fetcher, junior defender Matt Kontos, and Kahler each had shots on goal.

Senior goalkeeper Justin Oppenheimer played the whole game for Princeton, recording one save in the first half and three in the second.

Princeton had eight corner kick opportunities to Cornell's five, but racked up 19 fouls to the Big Red's nine.

Princeton laid a second goose egg against fierce rival Penn (9-4-2, 5-1-1), but this game was much more dramatic than the first. In a reversal of fortunes from the football game, Penn scored the lone goal of the game in the 100th minute, handing Princeton its third overtime loss this year.

Forward Kevin Unger received a long pass from teammate Mike Klein before turning and firing a left-footed boot into the lower right corner. The Quakers outshot the Tigers 18-14 for the match, including eight to five on goal.

Despite the many shots by both teams, this day belonged to the keepers, who combined for 11 saves. Oppenheimer played admirably in his final game as a Tiger, staving off six shot attempts. Princeton was led on offense by junior forward Kyle McHugh with five shots, while freshman midfielder Devin Muntz and Kahler recorded two apiece.

McHugh's shot in the 92nd minute was the Tigers' only attempt of the period, while the Quakers tried twice in the final minute, netting the second.

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The game was last at Lourie-Love field for seniors Oppenheimer, Kahler, midfielder James Hohnau, forward Zach Schwarz and defender and team captain Jame Wunsch, who all started the game.

Princeton finished the season 1-3-3 in overtime games this year, with the lone win coming against Seton Hall.

Princeton concluded the 2006 campaign in seventh place in the Ancient Eight. Penn's win secured second place while Harvard, 6-1 in league play, took the crown with a win over Columbia.