NEW YORK, N.Y. - The Cornell men's soccer team will play Columbia at Rocco B. Commisso Soccer Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 4 in the regular season closer. The Big Red will have an opportunity to clinch a spot in the first annual Ivy League Tournament.

MATCH INFORMATION
Cornell vs Columbia
SITE: Rocco B. Commisso Soccer Stadium – NEW YORK, N.Y.
RECORDS: Columbia (2-8-3, 0-5-1 Ivy League), Cornell (8-4-2, 2-2-2 Ivy League)
SERIES RECORD: 25-28-9
BROADCAST: ESPN+
Stats: cornellbigred.com

Ivy League Tournament Clinching Scenario
Cornell clinches a spot in the men's soccer Ivy League Tournament contingent upon a Big Red victory and loss by the Brown Bears (vs Yale this Saturday).

The preseason predicted Ivy League order of finish is listed below:

Predicted Order of Finish
1. Penn - 119 (9 first place votes)
2. Cornell - 115 (6)
3. Harvard - 87 (1)
4. Yale - 73
5. Princeton - 67
6. Dartmouth - 49
7. Brown - 42
8. Columbia - 24

RPI Ranking
The Big Red currently sits in the 32nd spot of the ratings performance index ranking, which is the highest among any Ivy League program, with Pennsylvania being the next on the list at 46. With a victory over Columbia this weekend and a Brown win, Cornell could be the highest rated Ivy League school in the RPI, yet not make the inaugural Ivy League tournament.

Valuable Cornell Wins
vs #19 New Hampshire (Cornell are the Wildcat's lone loss this season)
vs #7 Syracuse (Cornell took down defending National Champions, 2-1)

The Series
Columbia leads the series 25-28-9 over Cornell. The Big Red are 6-3-1 in the last ten matchups. The Big Red have won three of the previous five matchups with the Lions.

Players To Watch
Alex Harris (Cornell) - Harris was recently named to the Ivy League honor roll list, after a five point performance in the 4-2 victory against Canisius. Alex netted his first collegiate goal, which was followed by another to give him two goals in the game. He would follow up with the first assist of his career, on the third goal that stretched the Big Red's lead to three. Against UMBC, Harris put in the lone Big Red goal on a penalty kick. Harris, a first-year Cornellian, has four multi-goal games on the season, and leads the Ivy League in points (25) and goals with 11.

With his second goal in the contest against Colgate, Harris eclipsed Richard Simpson (1997) for the most goals (previously eight) and points (previously 18) scored by a Cornell freshman of all-time.

Balazs Feher (Cornell) - Feher has been on a run. Since scoring the first goal of his Big Red career against Colgate, the Hungarian freshman has been on a four-game point-streak. He now sits second on the squad in points (eight) on three goals and two assists.

Kisa Kiingi (Cornell) - Kiingi was recognized as a part of the College Soccer News Men's National Team of The Week for his performances against New Hampshire and Canisius. He was the culprit of the goal that Cornell needed to top New Hampshire 1-0 on the road, and has solidified a Big Red defense that is anchored in goal by Ryan Friedberg. Kiingi also contributed a helper on one of Harris' two goals in the win over Canisius, and one of his goals in the 2-1 victory over rival Syracuse. The senior defender has registered four points on one goal and two assists.

Ryan Friedberg (Cornell) - Friedberg tallied 10 saves in the opening weekend of the season, seven of which came on the back of his shutout win against No. 19 New Hampshire. The reigning Ivy League Rookie of the Year registered the fifth shutout of his young Big Red career in that game. He was named Ivy League Defender of The Week for those performances. Friedberg has 18 saves on the year with a .667 percentage through nine games.

Isaac Delgado (Cornell) - Delgado is in his first season for the Big Red. He made his first start in goal in a 3-2 victory against UAlbany, where he made two saves, and surrendered two goals. In his second start, against Penn, he registered one save, and gave up one goal during a penalty kick. Delgado also protected the net in Cornell's matchup with Colgate, saving a shot. The freshman goalie is now 2-1 in starts.

Will DeNight (Columbia) - DeNight is tied for the lead in points with eight on three goals and two assists.

Joao Lima (Columbia) - Lima leads the squad in goals with four, and is tied for the top rank in points with eight.

Chad Baker (Columbia) - Baker has registered three goals and one assist, amounting to seven points which stands second on the Lions.

Follow The Action
Kickoff between the Cornell men's soccer team and Columbia is slated for 6:00 p.m. on Saturday Nov. 4, at Rocco B. Commisso Soccer Stadium. Game action will be broadcast on ESPN+.