Box Score ITHACA, N.Y. – Daniel Haber scored Cornell's only goal and the Big Red defense was stellar, shutting out Princeton for a crucial 1-0 Ivy League victory at Berman Field on Saturday afternoon.
 
After a scoreless first half, the Big Red came out swinging in the second half as Haber's goal came two minutes into the period.
 
Taking a pass from Stephen Reisert, who dribbled expertly around Joe Saitta and toward in the penalty box, Haber spun and beat Tigers keeper Seth MacMillan for the goal. Standing mere yards from the end line, Haber somehow managed to go far post and score the goal in the side netting.
 
“I was waiting for the ball, waiting for the ball, and just trying to stay onside,” Haber said. “In the end, I got a great pass and was able to put it in.:
 
Cornell (13-1, 4-1 Ivy League) now has 12 points in the league standings and kept pace with Dartmouth, which also won on the day to reach 12 points. Cornell and Dartmouth will play at Berman Field next weekend. Both teams were chasing Brown, who entered the day on top of the Ivy League standings.
 
Princeton (6-6-2, 2-1-2) lost its first conference game of the season and fell further behind in the standings.
 
The Big Red's victory was especially important for momentum as it came one week after the team's first loss of the year. Cornell fell to the Bears 2-0 last week, and the team knew it had to come out strong Saturday against a Princeton team whose record betrays its skill.
 
“We want to strive for perfection,” Haber said. “Sometimes you need a hard loss like that to wake you up and show you that it's not going to be a perfect season. We're going to have to work hard for every win.”
 
The defense worked especially hard against the Tigers, holding them to just three shots and keeping their dangerous set pieces at bay. Rick Pflasterer had three saves for the victory, but the Big Red defense knocked multiple corner kicks and long throw-ins away from the penalty area to maintain the team's fifth shutout of the season.

The win was Cornell's first over Princeton since 2006 and equaled the most victories Cornell has had in a year since 1995. Cornell also won its fourth Ivy League game for the first time since 1999.
 
Cornell returns to action next weekend when Dartmouth comes to Ithaca for a clash between two teams tied in the conference standings. The game kicks off at 6 p.m.