ITHACA, N.Y. - The Cornell men's soccer team downed defending national champion, #7 Syracuse, 2-1 in front of a packed crowd at Berman Field on Tuesday night. Freshman forward Alex Harris scored two goals for the second time this year. The Big Red moves to 3-2 on the year, while the Orange suffer their first loss of the season and fall to 3-1-3.

The Big Red fans threatened capacity at Berman Field in the season opener, in hopes of watching men's soccer avenge it's 2022 NCAA tournament setback against the Orange.

The squads opened the game with testy attitudes, as you would expect in the central New York rivalry, racking up the fouls and yellow cards, with three yellow cards and 13 fouls being assesed among both sides.

The Cornellians were firing away early, acummulating 10 shots in the half, with just one making it to the Syracuse goalkeeper Jason Smith.

As the half winded down, Felipe D'Agostini struck first for the Orange, when Nathaniel Edwards and Gavin Wigg found D'Agostini cutting toward the net to put up a tally in the 38th-minute.

Six minutes into the second half senior defender Kisa Kiingi directed traffic and dissected the Orange, finding Alex Harris for a 51st-minute game-tying goal. The rivals continued to be chippy as 20 fouls and two yellow cards were called in the final half.

In the 76th-minute, Harris found the back of the net for the second time, coming from a pass by senior forward Matthew Goncalves, giving Cornell it's first lead of the day.

Syracuse upped their offensive pressure with time coming to a close, searching desperately for a score. In the 82nd-minute, the Cornell faithful gasped when they witnessed the Orange find the back of the net, but were immediately rejuvenated when the official signaled for an offside, taking away the goal.

Cornell would hold for the remainder of the game, earning it's first victory of all-time against a defending NCAA national champion.

"Overall it was a very good performance against a great team. Our guys never stopped working and that is something we continually champion. Our effort brought good scoring opportunities our way and I thought we were fortunate hitting the woodwork twice", John Smith, the Dr. Daniel P. Wood Head Coach of Men's Soccer, mentioned.

Harris, a first-year Cornellian, has two multi-goal games on the season, and now leads the team in goals with five. "Two very confident finishes from Harris ended up deciding the game. Now we have to refocus and prepare for an excellent Harvard team coming up." Smith added.

Next Up
Cornell will travel to Cambridge, Mass. on Saturday for action against Ivy League foe, Harvard. Kickoff is slated for 4:00 p.m. at Jordan Field. Game action will be broadcast to ESPN+.