Men's soccer to take on Yale with Ivy title on the line

The end of the regular season has come for the men’s soccer team, which takes on the Ivy’s weakest side on Saturday, as the Tigers (10-3-3 overall, 4-1-1 Ivy) travel to New Haven to take on a Yale side (1-12-3, 0-5-1) that has won just one game this season. Despite the fact that the Tigers ride an eight-game unbeaten streak, which has included seven victories, Princeton will need some help from the powers that be in order to clinch the outright Ivy title, as well as an automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament.

A number of results is possible based upon the performance of Princeton, Dartmouth (10-4-2, 4-1-1) and Harvard (10-4-2, 3-1-2) this weekend. If Dartmouth wins against Brown, then the Big Green —tied for first with Princeton in the Ivy standings —will clinch the automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament regardless of whether or not Princeton wins by virtue of its overtime victory against Princeton in October. Dartmouth would also advance with a draw as long as Princeton loses or draws. Losses for both teams would lead to Dartmouth automatically advancing to the postseason as long as Harvard does not win against Penn. If Princeton wins and Dartmouth either ties or loses, then Princeton wins the outright Ivy title in addition to automatically advancing to the NCAA Tournament. Princeton would also advance to the NCAA Tournament with a tie if Dartmouth loses. Harvard’s only chance at the Ivy title and a berth to the postseason comes if the Crimson defeats Penn, and both Princeton and Dartmouth lose.

The Tigers know not to overlook Yale in this final game of the season. Yale’s record belies a team that has had 14 of its games end in either ties or one-goal differentials. Last year’s match — whenthe Tigers just squeaked out a 3-2 win over the Bulldogs on Myslik Field at Roberts Stadium — exemplifies this fact.

“Despite Yale’s poor record, we think they are a better team than their record says since they’ve been in so many close games,” junior forward Nico Hurtado said. “Playing on the road in the Ivy League is always difficult.”

And the Bulldogs will have even more motivation to knock out the Tigers this weekend, as it is not only the final game for Yale’s seniors but also for head coach Brian Tompkins. Tompkins, who has been at the helm of Yale’s men’s team for 19 years, is the second winningest coach in Yale men’s soccer history. He has amassed 137 victories over his time in New Haven, second only to Steve Griggs (143).

Despite the emotions that will rise high for the home team and crowd on Saturday afternoon, the Tigers know they have a job to do. That is the only thing on Princeton’s mind right now.

“Our only option is to leave Connecticut with the three points,” Hurtado said. “Hopefully, Dartmouth loses or ties to Brown so that we get the automatic NCAA bid. If Dartmouth wins, we just gotta hope that we get an at-large bid in the selection show on Monday. We can only worry about what we control, and that’s winning on Saturday.”

Kickoff is set for 3 p.m. on Saturday afternoon at Reese Stadium in New Haven.