Saturday, September 27
Cambridge, Mass.
4:00 PM
Princeton University
6-1-0, 1-0-0
1
at
0
Harvard
3-2-2, 0-1-0
1
2
F
Princeton
1
0
1
Harvard
0
0
0
Photo by: Aiden Shertzer/Harvard Athletics
Tigers Blank Harvard, 1-0, in Ivy Opener
September 27, 2025 | Men's Soccer
CAMBRIDGE, MA. – With a goal by Daniel Ittycheria and a standout performance by keeper Andrew Samuels, the Princeton men's soccer team won its Ivy League opener over Harvard, 1-0, on the road in Cambridge.
After an early connection from Kevin Kelley, Bardia Hormozi and Ittycheria, the Tigers took the lead. Samuels went on to be a brick wall in goal, keeping the Crimson locked out of the match for his fourth shutout of the year.
With the win, Princeton improves to 6-1 on the season and opens Ivy play 1-0, while Harvard falls to 3-2-2 and 0-1 in conference play. The loss marks Harvard's first in five games.
"Andrew certainly had a man of the match performance, but for him it's a byproduct of dedicating himself to hard work and continuing his growth and development. His ability to make a big save was showcased tonight, but this position is more about the mental aspect and preventing great opportunities from the opponent by communicating effectively with the ten guys in front of you. Harvard is a very good team, and Andrew displayed outstanding shot-stopping abilities on the PK as well as a direct free kick late in the game and a 1v1 spread save right off his goal line in the first half. Andrew has a great combination of humility and confidence; his humility keeps him pushing himself to continue to get better and the confidence allows him to let his hard work showcase itself on game days. We like to look at our GK group as one team pushing each other to excellence, and he certainly represented our GK unit very well tonight." - Assistant Coach Sam Maira
How It Happened
Princeton came out attacking, with the first shots for the Tigers coming in the ninth minute as Ittycheria forced a save by the Crimson keeper Cullen MacNeil before Hormozi found the rebound and sent it high.
The Crimson were able to counter quickly, but Samuels was there to collect before sending the Tigers back on the attack.
A series of good shots in the 13th and 18th minutes looked like they might break through as Kelley and Hormozi generated chances, but neither would find the back of the net.
In the 22nd minute, Kelley found Hormozi deep in the attacking end. Hormozi sent a cross in, finding the head of Ittycheria who sent it into the back of the net to put Princeton up 1-0.
With the Crimson looking to equalize, Samuels came up with two more stops to keep the score knotted at 1-0 going into the break.
Coming out of the half, the Tigers kept up the pressure, earning three corners in the first five minutes.
Harvard was quick on the counter-attacks, though, and asked questions of the Tiger defense.
With a penalty kick awarded to the Crimson in the 60th minute, Nicholas Nyquist stepped up to the spot. He launched the ball towards the bottom left of the goal, but Samuels was there to make the save.
With another Crimson corner immediately after, Samuels and the Tiger back line were able to make the clearance again to keep Harvard locked out.
Back on offense, the Tigers continued to generate solid chances to score as Hormozi registered five more shots, forcing a save by MacNeil with several others going just inches wide.
Despite knocking on the door, Princeton would not add another, but the solid defensive performance from Samuels and the Tiger back line would keep Crimson shut out as the 1-0 score stood final.
Of Note
Up Next
The Tigers will look to close out their three-game road stint at Army on Tuesday, with kickoff set for 6 p.m. in West Point, N.Y.
After an early connection from Kevin Kelley, Bardia Hormozi and Ittycheria, the Tigers took the lead. Samuels went on to be a brick wall in goal, keeping the Crimson locked out of the match for his fourth shutout of the year.
With the win, Princeton improves to 6-1 on the season and opens Ivy play 1-0, while Harvard falls to 3-2-2 and 0-1 in conference play. The loss marks Harvard's first in five games.
"Andrew certainly had a man of the match performance, but for him it's a byproduct of dedicating himself to hard work and continuing his growth and development. His ability to make a big save was showcased tonight, but this position is more about the mental aspect and preventing great opportunities from the opponent by communicating effectively with the ten guys in front of you. Harvard is a very good team, and Andrew displayed outstanding shot-stopping abilities on the PK as well as a direct free kick late in the game and a 1v1 spread save right off his goal line in the first half. Andrew has a great combination of humility and confidence; his humility keeps him pushing himself to continue to get better and the confidence allows him to let his hard work showcase itself on game days. We like to look at our GK group as one team pushing each other to excellence, and he certainly represented our GK unit very well tonight." - Assistant Coach Sam Maira
How It Happened
Princeton came out attacking, with the first shots for the Tigers coming in the ninth minute as Ittycheria forced a save by the Crimson keeper Cullen MacNeil before Hormozi found the rebound and sent it high.
The Crimson were able to counter quickly, but Samuels was there to collect before sending the Tigers back on the attack.
A series of good shots in the 13th and 18th minutes looked like they might break through as Kelley and Hormozi generated chances, but neither would find the back of the net.
In the 22nd minute, Kelley found Hormozi deep in the attacking end. Hormozi sent a cross in, finding the head of Ittycheria who sent it into the back of the net to put Princeton up 1-0.
With the Crimson looking to equalize, Samuels came up with two more stops to keep the score knotted at 1-0 going into the break.
Coming out of the half, the Tigers kept up the pressure, earning three corners in the first five minutes.
Harvard was quick on the counter-attacks, though, and asked questions of the Tiger defense.
With a penalty kick awarded to the Crimson in the 60th minute, Nicholas Nyquist stepped up to the spot. He launched the ball towards the bottom left of the goal, but Samuels was there to make the save.
With another Crimson corner immediately after, Samuels and the Tiger back line were able to make the clearance again to keep Harvard locked out.
Back on offense, the Tigers continued to generate solid chances to score as Hormozi registered five more shots, forcing a save by MacNeil with several others going just inches wide.
Despite knocking on the door, Princeton would not add another, but the solid defensive performance from Samuels and the Tiger back line would keep Crimson shut out as the 1-0 score stood final.
Of Note
- Ittycheria's goal was his fourth of the year. He now leads the Tigers.
- Kelley's and Hormozi's assists were their second of the season.
- Samuels made five saves in the shutout. It is his fourth clean sheet of the year.
- Both the Tigers and the Crimson had 15 shots with six on goal.
Up Next
The Tigers will look to close out their three-game road stint at Army on Tuesday, with kickoff set for 6 p.m. in West Point, N.Y.
Team Stats
PRIN
HARV
Goals
1
0
Shots
15
15
Shots on Goal
6
6
Saves
5
5
Corners
5
5
Fouls
17
13
Scoring Plays
Daniel Ittycheria (4)
Assisted By: Bardia Hormozi , Kevin Kelley
GOAL by PRIN Ittycheria, Daniel Assist by Hormozi, Bardia and Kelley, Kevin.
22:50
Game Leaders
Players
Shots
3
SOG
2
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
6
SOG
1
Goals
0
Assists
1
Shots
2
SOG
2
Goals
0
Assists
1
Shots
1
SOG
1
Goals
0
Assists
0
Players Mentioned
M/F
/ Men's SoccerF
/ Men's SoccerF
/ Men's Soccer
GK
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