Cornell Now 7-0 With Win Vs. St. Joseph's

by Evan Drexler
September 22, 2012

ITHACA, N.Y. – Daniel Haber was up to his usual tricks for the Big Red men's soccer team on Saturday evening, scoring two goals and assisting on the game-winner by Conor Goepel as Cornell came from behind to squeak past St. Joseph's by a 3-2 margin at Berman Field.

Down 1-0 when the visiting Hawks scored a goal in the seventh minute, No. 24 Cornell looked flat and unable to put much pressure on the Saint Joseph's defense in the first half.

But the team came out swinging in the second half, as Haber scored two goals in the first four minutes of the second period to lead the Big Red (7-0) to a 2-1 lead over the Hawks (2-5).

Cornell remains undefeated and untied on the season and has not lost a non-conference game in 15 opportunities. The Big Red has opened the season 7-0 for the first time since 1974, and it's seven-game winning streak is the team's first since 1995. Cornell has also scored a goal in 23 consecutive games, extending its own team record by one.

Haber got the goal that tied the game at 1-1 in the 47th minute, just 106 seconds after the second half began. Taking a great feed from Ben Williams, Haber sprinted in front of all the Hawks' defenders and beat goalie Andrew D'Ottavi low and to the left. D'Ottavi got fingers on the ball, but the pace was too quick to slow it down as it rolled into the back of the net. The goal was Haber's 20th of his career, his 10th of the season and set a new career single-season high for him.

That career high didn't last for long, as less than two minutes later, Williams again caused some havoc for the visitors. He took a shot from above the penalty box that was blocked by a Saint Joseph's hand inside the box, and the referee blew his whistle for a penalty kick. Haber took the penalty, confidently burying the ball in the top right corner of the goal for a 2-1 Big Red advantage, his nation-leading 11th goal of the year and his 50th career point.

The game was hardly over, though, as Saint Joseph's continued fighting and re-tied the score on a goal by Jake Nelson. Forward Alex Critzos was standing with the ball at the right side of the penalty box, and he crossed it in midair to Nelson on the left side. Nelson took one touch, kept the ball afloat, and got it past Rick Pflasterer to make it 2-2 in the 72nd minute after it looked like the Hawks had been defeated mentally.

Haber and the Big Red, though, would have the last laugh. Taking a free kick from distance just three minutes later, Haber found some free space in the penalty box. Diving for a header was Goepel, and he re-directed the ball from a low angle past D'Ottavi to make it a 3-2 lead that Cornell would hold.

The Hawks' first goal came off a corner kick just seven minutes in when the ball bounced around the box and the Big Red was unable to clear. After a few players had a swing at it, Pat McGlynn finally nudged the ball over the line to give the visitors a 1-0 lead.

The Big Red returns to action on Tuesday night, completing its third game in seven days against Hartwick at Berman Field. The game begins at 7 p.m.

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