Fresh off the highest ranking in program history, the Orange and Black continue to win.
On Tuesday evening, No. 13 men’s soccer (7–1 overall, 1–0 Ivy League) traveled to West Point, N.Y., beating Army West Point (3–3–4, 1–1–1 Patriot League) 2–0. The win marked the sixth consecutive win for Head Coach Jim Barlow’s squad.
The Tigers’ No. 13 ranking in the country marks the first time they have been ranked since 2001, when they were ranked No. 25 for a week.
“The ranking reflects that we’ve had a good season up to this point, and that’s great,” Barlow wrote to The Daily Princetonian. “But we know that the only thing that really matters is where you are ranked in November.”
Senior forward Daniel Ittycheria — the 2024 Ivy League Tournament Most Outstanding Player — missed his first game of the season after picking up a head injury in the Tigers 1–0 win over Harvard to open Ivy play. The injury came as Ittycheria headed the ball in the back of the net for Princeton’s lone goal of the match.
Despite the absence of their star, the Orange and Black found a way to win, capitalizing off of two crucial Army mistakes. Junior forward Kevin Kelley and first-year forward Jackson Martin found the back of the net while standout junior goalkeeper Andrew Samuels recorded his fifth shutout of the season.
“The key has been a growing level of confidence and just overall game experience,” Samuels wrote to the ‘Prince.’ “Each time I step on the field this year, I feel like I belong and know I can thrive.”
“We’ve played a lot of high-level and intense games and that has really helped me feel more comfortable. I also have complete trust in the guys in front of me, which gives me the freedom to make plays,” he continued.
Samuels has been named the Ivy League Defensive Player of the Week for two consecutive weeks, leading a Tiger defense that has allowed just two goals in its eight opening games.
“We have a goalkeeper and a back line who all returned this year and who played together in some huge games last year, and those experiences have helped them to be ready for the challenges we have faced thus far this season,” Barlow wrote.
The back four of sophomore Roka Tsunehara, senior Jack Jasinski, senior Giuliano Fravolini Whitchurch, and sophomore Dash Papez played together for the first part of the 2024 season before Papez went down with an injury.
“We know that for us to defend well, it starts with the guys up the field and our transition defense and pressing,” Barlow wrote. “When we defend well as a team, it starts there. But the back four and Andrew have been really solid in the defensive third.”
The first goal of the game came in the eighth minute after a mistake by Army goalkeeper Collin Gilbert that allowed Kelley to give Princeton an early lead.
“The early goal was very important as we know we have been difficult to score on and playing with the lead gave us confidence,” Barlow wrote.
Play slowed down on both ends of the field following the Tiger goal. Despite Princeton generating eight shots and Army earning three corner kicks, the visitors held a slim 1–0 lead at the halftime break.
Coming out of the locker room, Army found its footing as it threatened the Tiger defense. Army midfielder Ronald Zhai provided a spark for the hosts after coming off the bench, registering two shots on goal in the second half. However, none were able to make it past Samuels.
“Army played well and had us under a lot of pressure during stretches of the game, especially in the second half. Both [of our] goals were opportunistic game-changing moments,” Barlow wrote.
The second of the Tigers’ opportunistic moments came in the 84th minute when junior midfielder/forward Bardia Hormozi intercepted an Army play, sending a through ball into Martin, who found the back of the net with two defenders trailing.
When the final whistle blew, the Tigers left West Point with their fourth win in as many road games this season. Notably, last year, the Tigers needed until Tuesday, Oct. 22 to get their seventh win of the season. This season, it happened three weeks earlier in September.
“I think continuity has been the true difference maker,” Samuels wrote. “My first two years here, we were always considered a young team with plenty of growing pains. We’ve always known we have the talent and playmakers to compete with anyone, but learning from mistakes and playing together has helped our style of play and chemistry tremendously.”
Next up for Princeton is a home conference game against the Brown Bears (5–2–1, 1–0 Ivy). The Bears are led by senior midfielder/defender Mads Stistrup Petersen, who has three goals and assists apiece in the Bears’ first eight games of the season. Brown has failed to beat Princeton in its last six attempts, with their last win coming in 2017.
Kickoff is set for Oct. 4 at 4 p.m. at Roberts Stadium.
“Everything feels like it’s coming together really well. We have now developed into a mature group, and I’m pleased at how hungry and competitive we continue to be,” Samuels wrote.
Hayk Yengibaryan is a head News editor, senior Sports writer, and education director for the ‘Prince.’ He is from Glendale, Calif. and typically covers breaking news and profiles. He can be reached at hy5161[at]princeton.edu.
Please send any corrections to corrections[at]dailyprincetonian.com.
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