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Princeton University Athletics
Men's Soccer Hosts 21st-Ranked Brown in Key Ivy Matchup Saturday Night
October 05, 2006 | Men's Soccer
Though it's still early in an Ivy League race that has seen only eight league games played heading into Saturday, it wouldn't be wrong to call Princeton's matchup with Brown Saturday night at Lourie-Love Field (7 p.m.) the Tigers' biggest game of the season.
A win for Princeton would, quite simply, leave the Tigers in control of their own destiny in the Ivy League race. Any other result would mean that Princeton will need some help as the season heads into its final weeks.
Brown (7-1-1, 1-0-1 Ivy), one of the Ivy's tri-champions a year ago, has gotten off to a strong start in 2006. The Bears are the 21st-ranked team nationally in the NSCAA poll and have lost just once in their first nine games, to an undefeated SMU team now ranked No. 1 in the country.
Princeton (5-4-2, 1-1 Ivy) fell to St. John's by a 1-0 score at Lourie-Love Field Wednesday night in a game that was delayed by more than an hour midway through the first half due to lightning and rain. The defeat broke a two-game Tiger winning streak.
Saturday's game is also the second in a three-game stretch for Princeton against regionally-ranked squads. St. John's is ranked No. 8 in the Northeast Region, while Brown is currently ranked No. 2 and Seton Hall, the opponent next Tuesday, No. 6. The Tigers entered the regional rankings at No. 10 this week.
The Tigers defeated Brown by a 3-2 score the last time the two teams played here, in 2004. If Princeton can repeat that result Saturday, the Tigers would not only have a win against a ranked team but a boost of confidence heading into the final four weekends of conference play, which continues after this weekend for Princeton with a match at Columbia next Saturday.
NOTE: Saturday's game will be televised by Patriot 8 on a tape-delayed basis. The game can be seen on both Mon., Oct. 9, and Wed., Oct. 11 at 9 p.m.
GAME NOTES
PRINCETON VS. BROWN
Ivy Fact No team has won the Ivy League title with more than one league loss since the 1975 season. Only Penn (2-0) and Brown (1-0-1) haven't lost a league game heading into Saturday.
Pulling Rank Princeton, the 10th-ranked team in the NSCAA Northeast Region, played the No. 8 team Wednesday (St. John's), faces the No. 2 team Saturday (Brown) and the No. 6 team next Tuesday (Seton Hall).
Setting Goals Princeton has scored two goals in four home games this season; the Tigers have scored 11 goals in seven games away from home.
Last Time Princeton defeated Brown 3-2 at Lourie-Love Field in 2004. The Tigers scored with less than 12 minutes left in regulation to win the game.
More Rank Brown is the second nationally-ranked team Princeton has faced this year. The Tigers lost to then-No. 17 Fairleigh Dickinson 3-0 Sept. 12.
Home, Sweet Home Princeton is currently on a four-game homestand. The Tigers played just two of their first eight games at home.
For Openers Princeton's first three Ivy games this season have come against each of last year's Ivy champions (Yale, Dartmouth, Brown).