ITHACA, N.Y. – Following the program's best season to date under the tutelage of head coach
John Smith, the Cornell men's soccer team has its sights set on more as the team opens the 2019 season on Friday. The Big Red kick things off on the road against Michigan on Friday, Sept. 6 at 5 p.m., before facing 2018 NCAA semi-finalist Michigan State on Sunday, Sept. 8 at 3 p.m.
Picked to finish third in the Ivy League Preseason Media Poll, the Big Red return 20 letter winners from the 2018 season, including 18 players that made appearances in the starting XI for one or more games. Within the 20 returning letter winners are four 2018 All-Ivy League honorees in senior
John Scearce, junior
Charles Touche and sophomores
Emeka Eneli and
Tate Keir. A member of the All-Ivy League First Team, Touche was the first member of the Big Red to be named First Team All-Ivy since 2014.
Following a 4-12-1 record just four seasons ago, Smith and assistant coach
Drew Hutchins arrived in Ithaca to change the culture of the program and right the ship in 2016. While the results weren't there in year one, Smith and his staff have improved the program in each season he's been at the helm, winning seven matches in year two and 11 in 2018.
"It's a culture of putting the team first," said senior
Ryan Bayne, who is in his fifth season as a member of the Cornell men's soccer program. "A night and day difference from when I first started here. Four years ago, you wouldn't believe it if someone said that the program would be in the position it's in now. It goes to show what the coaching staff has brought to the table since they arrived."
Bayne is joined by fellow seniors
George Pedlow,
Brady Dickens,
Ryan Shellow and
Riley Adams as members of the team that have witnessed first-hand the change in culture over the years as the program has risen from the ashes of a 1-14-2 season in 2016.
Scearce joined the program as a transfer prior to the 2018 season and was quick to notice what was brewing in Ithaca. "When I came on a visit before transferring here two years ago it was clear to me that John (Smith) and Drew (Hutchins) had a vision of making this one of the top programs in the country," said Scearce.
Cornell aims to further the vision of its coaching staff in 2019 as the program opens its season against two perennially strong teams in the Great Lakes State this weekend.
"They are two opponents with national recognition, so this is an important weekend for us to come away with a result," said Scearce.
Both matches this weekend will be available to stream online at
btnplus.com, subscription required.
Here is an inside look at Cornell's upcoming opponents. For more information on Cornell men's soccer and its upcoming matches, read the
game notes available here.
SCOUTING MICHIGAN
Popovic and Broche were instrumental in the Wolverines picking up their first win of the season last weekend, a 3-1 victory over SIUE. Both newcomers to the Michigan XI, Broche notched a brace and Popovic scored the go-ahead goal in the 87th minute of action. Last year's top scorer, Jack Hallahan, has been held scoreless so far this season on seven shots. A MAC Herman semi-finalist in 2018, Hallahan tallied eight goals and eight assists last year. Michigan is without last season's goalkeeper, Henry Mashburn, who posted a school record 0.81 goals against average in 21 starts.
SCOUTING MICHIGAN STATE
Michigan State surprised college soccer fans with an NCAA Tournament run to the Final Four last season, but have struggled to find an offensive groove thus far in 2019. The Spartans lost each of their top two goal scorers from a year ago in Ryan Sierakowski and DeJuan Jones to the MLS Super Draft. The two combined for 36 points (13 goals, 10 assists). Like the Wolverines, Michigan State has a new face in goal as 2018 Big Ten Goalkeeper of the Year, Jimmy Hague, was selected by FC Cincinnati in the second round.
