ITHACA, N.Y. – Cornell men's soccer suffered its first set-back in nearly a month on Saturday afternoon, falling 1-0 to Penn in the Ivy League opener for both squads. The Big Red will now hit the road for the first time since Sept. 16 when it travels to Cambridge, Mass., to take on the red-hot Harvard Crimson on Saturday, Oct. 11, at 4:30 p.m.
 
Cornell Big Red (6-3-1; 0-1-0 Ivy League) at Harvard Crimson (6-3-0; 1-0-0 Ivy League)
Saturday, Oct. 11, 2014 | 4:30 PM | Cambridge, Mass. – Soldiers Field Soccer Stadium
All-Time Record: Cornell Trails, 22-39-15
Last Meeting (2013): Cornell Loss, 1-2 (2 OT)
Live Stats | Live Video (ILDN)
 
SCOUTING CORNELL
 
Big Red Headlines
Cornell men's soccer dropped its first contest at Berman Field this season on Saturday against Penn. Although the Big Red outplayed the Quakers for vast stretches, the team could not unlock the Penn defense nor solve keeper Max Polkinhorne. Cornell outshot Penn 12-8 in the contest, including 5-2 in shots on goal. Penn reserve Forrest Clancy scored the lone goal in the contest, connecting on a free kick from 35-yards out that dipped just inside the top-right corner over the outstretched reach of Cornell keeper Zach Zagorski. Senior Peter Chodas led the Big Red with three shots, including a couple great strikes that just drifted high of the cage.
 
About Head Coach Jaro Zawislan
Zawislan enters his sixth season at Cornell having established himself as one of the top coaches in the Ivy League during his short tenure. After taking over a program that was 1-15 the season before his appointment as head coach, Zawislan has transformed Big Red men's soccer into a consistent winner and a national presence in NCAA Division I. In his first five seasons on East Hill his teams have posted at least .500 winning percentages four times, while he has led Cornell to three consecutive winning seasons. He also directed the Big Red to its first Ivy League title since 1995 and first outright title since 1977 in 2012. His coaching record currently sits at 47-26-10 and his current .627 winning percentage is the second best mark in program history.
 
Zawislan is a graduate of Clemson University '93, while he was a four-year starting goalkeeper on the varsity soccer team. Upon his graduation he played professionally both in the United States and his native Poland, before pursuing a career in coaching. He made assistant coaching stops at Stanford, Creighton and Syracuse, before being named Cornell's 11^th head coach in 2009.
 
Last Meeting with Harvard
Cornell dropped a heartbreaker at home against Harvard last season, falling 2-1 in double overtime. The Crimson opened the scoring in the 24^th minute of play when Ross Friedman one-timed a cross from A.J. Agha just inside the near side post from 20-yards out. Cornell pressed for the equalizer, outshooting the Crimson 22-9 through regulation. The Big Red notched the equalizer in the 82^nd minute. Ben Feldman started the play, delivering a free kick service from 35-yards out into the box. Harvard keeper Evan Mendez punched the ball away, but it fell to the foot of Peter Chodas. He sent a quick volley back toward the net, where Jake Kirsch headed it into the vacated cage. The Big Red nearly scored the game-winner late as Sebastian Scales fired a shot to the right post, but the Crimson defense was able to block the attempt. Harvard regrouped to outshoot the Big Red 6-0 in overtime, with Kevin Harrington netting the game-winner on a header in the 102^nd minute.
 
Dynamic Defense
The Big Red defense was stout yet again on Saturday, holding Penn to just one goal and two shots on goal. Impressive, has been the team's ability to insulate the net. That was on display yet again on Saturday. Senior center back Devin Morgan made two terrific plays in the defensive third. He tracked back to make a perfect sliding tackle as it looked as though Penn striker Duke Lacroix had a clear path to the net. Later in the opening half, he cleared a ball off the goal line as a shot was able to squeeze past Zagorski and was trickling toward the empty net. The Big Red currently ranks eighth in NCAA Division I with a 0.48 team goals against average and ranks tied for sixth in shutout percentage, marking a clean sheet in 70% of its contests this season. The team had not allowed a goal for 414-minutes and 36-seconds, the longest such stretch since a 501-minute 20-second stretch over six games during the 2011 season.
 
Parsimonious Paws in Net
Senior keeper Zach Zagorski has been stellar in net for the Big Red this season. He was the tough luck loser on Saturday despite another solid performance. He made one save, but was influential in directing his defense corps that was excellent in limiting Penn's chances. The lone Penn marker was a perfectly placed knuckling shot that dipped just inside the connecting between the right post and the crossbar in the top right corner of the net.
 
Zagorski currently leads the Ivy League for all eligible keepers in goals against average (0.500) and save percentage (.868). He currently ranks in the top-15 in NCAA Division I in two categories; checking in at 12^th in goals against average and 13^th in save percentage. His 33 saves are third most in the Ivy League. Zagorski now has 11 career shutouts and is all-alone in fourth on the program's all-time list for the statistic.
 
On the Road Again
The Big Red will hit the road for the first time since Sept. 16 when it travels to Cambridge, Mass., to square off with Harvard. Cornell has played several big road games this season, including contests at ranked opponents Syracuse and Louisville, and will not be fazed by the hostile Crimson crowd. The Big Red will look to even its road record at 2-2-1 with a victory over Harvard on Saturday.
 
Captains Are Clutch
With a young, though talented supporting cast, Cornell knew it would need big contributions from the team's four senior captains. Peter Chodas, Conor Goepel, Devin Morgan and Zach Zagorski have answered the call in resounding fashion this season. Each player finds his name amongst the Ivy League's best in varied categories.
 
Chodas currently is tied for first and ranks 36^th nationally with four assists. He posted a natural hat-trick of assists in the Big Red's victory over Buffalo, having a hand in all three first half markers.
 
Goepel has been the heart and soul of the Big Red's offensive attack this season. He is tied for the Ivy League lead in points (13), goals (5), and is in first alone for game-winning goals (3). He currently is tied for ninth nationally in game-winners, 36^th in total points, and 37^th in goals.
 
Morgan has gotten into the offensive of late. He has marked the game-winner in the Big Red's last two contests prior to Saturday and is tied for second in the conference and 34^th nationally in the category this season. He has also been a major cog in leading the league's top-ranked defense.
 
Zagorski has been stout in net when called upon. He leads the conference in most every category for goal keepers.
 
Must-Win Game?
Saturday's matchup with the Crimson will be a big game for Cornell, as it attempts to rebound from a loss in the conference home opener. It has been 39 years since a team has won at least a share of the Ivy League title with multiple league losses; Cornell and Brown tied for the league title in 1975 with 5-2 records in Ivy League play.
 
SCOUTING HARVARD
 
Crimson Headlines
Harvard kept things rolling in its conference opener on Saturday, dispatching Yale 1-0 at Soldiers Field Soccer Stadium. Defensman Mark Ashby tucked home the game-winner in the 66^th minute. Hiroki Kobayashi started the scoring sequence, delivering service to Christian Sady who in one move made a devilish touch to direct the ball to Ashby. The junior navigated his way through the scrum in front of the goalmouth, getting the first boot to the ball to direct it into the yawning cage for his third goal of the season.
 
About Head Coach Pieter Lehrer
Lehrer is in his second season at the helm of the Crimson. He has made an immediate impact since coming to Cambridge. He guided the program to a 7-8-2 mark and a second-place finish in his inaugural season. The Crimson had not won an Ivy League match in the previous two seasons; however, he led the team to a 5-2 mark a season ago. He currently sports a 13-11-2 mark with the program. Lehrer made assistant coaching stops at Stanford, Evansville and Cal, while also serving as an assistant coach with the LA Galaxy of the MLS, before joining the Crimson in April of 2013.
 
Offensive Juggernaut
Under Lehrer's fast-paced offensive system, Harvard has transformed into the most prolific offense in the Ivy League. The Crimson has pumped in 19 goals through nine games this season, including an astonishing 17 in the last six games. The team currently ranks 13^th in NCAA Division I in scoring offense (2.11 goals per game), while it ranks 4^th in assists per game (2.67) and 8^th in points per game (6.89).
 
Scoring Depth
What has been most impressive about the Crimson's offensive outburst is its scoring depth. Ten different players have scored at least one goal this season, while six have netted multiple goals. Harvard has 16 players who have collected at least one point, while no player has more than seven. Daniel Smith, Mark Ashby and Kyle Henderson are tied for the team lead with three goals apiece, while Sam Brown and Christian Sady are tied for the team and league lead with four assists each. The Big Red will need to be cognizant whenever the ball is in the attacking third as nine players have recorded double-digit shot attempts.
 
Streaking Crimson
After a dreadful 0-3-0 start, the Crimson has collected six straight victories entering its matchup with Cornell on Saturday. The offense has come alive, netting 17 goals in the six games, while the defense has allowed only conceded seven during the winning streak.
 
Tough at Home
The Crimson is undefeated at home so far this season, compiling a 5-0-0 mark at Soldiers Field Soccer Stadium. Dating back to last season Harvard is 4-1 on its home field in conference games. The Big Red did win its last game at Soldiers Field Soccer Stadium, dispatching the Crimson 3-1 in 2012.
 
UP NEXT
The Big Red will stay on the road after its match against Harvard, as it travels to Hamilton, N.Y. for a matchup with Colgate. The match will conclude the Big Red's non-conference season, with opening kick scheduled for 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 14.