CAMBRIDGE, Mass. - The Cornell men's soccer team will open up Ivy League play when it takes a trip to Jordan Field on Sept. 23, for action against Harvard.

MATCH INFORMATION
Cornell at Harvard
SITE: Jordan Field – Cambridge, Mass.
RECORDS: Harvard (1-2-3, 0-0-0 Ivy League), Cornell (3-2-0, 0-0-0 Ivy League)
SERIES RECORD: 22-35-13
BROADCAST: ESPN+
Stats: gocrimson.com

Upset In East Hill
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 Cornell men's soccer team downed defending national champion, #7 Syracuse, 2-1 in front of a packed crowd on Tuesday night. Freshman forward Alex Harris scored two goals for the second time this year. The victory marked the first time that Big Red men's soccer has taken down a defending national champion. The first two tries came against Hartwick in 1978, and Virginia in 1993.

The Big Red improved to 3-2-0 on the year, while the Orange suffered their first loss of the season and fell to 3-1-3.

Ivy League Opener
This week marks the opening slate of Ivy League matches. Cornell was picked to finish second in the Ivy-League preseason poll. The Big Red totaled 115 points, including six first-place votes. The lone team picked above the Cornellians was Pennsylvania, earning 119 points. Harvard, was slotted just below the Big Red at three. The predicted 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

The Series
Harvard leads the series 35-22-13 over Cornell, but the Big Red has taken the last five meetings on the pitch between the two Ivy League programs. The Cornellians are outscoring the Crimson 19-8 in those matchups. The last time Harvard outlasted Cornell dates back to 2016 when they played host, and ran away with a 4-0 victory in New England.

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 two multi-goal games on the season, and leads the Ivy League in points (11) and goals with five.

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 on Tuesday.

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 15 saves on the year with a .714 percentage through five games.

Willem Ebbinge (Harvard) - Ebbinge leads the team in points with five, on one goal and three assists.

Dylan Tellado (Harvard) - Tellado is the team leader in goals, with two, giving him four points so far on the season.

Alessandro Arlotti (Harvard) - Arlotti proves to be unselfish with the ball, registering three assists which gives him the team lead in helpers.

Follow The Action
Kickoff between the Cornell and Harvard is slated for 4:00 p.m. on Saturday Sept. 23rd, at Jordan Field. Game action will be broadcast on ESPN+.