Cornell Reclaims 1st in Ivy With 2-1 OT Win
ITHACA, N.Y. – Tyler Regan stood on the sideline celebrating, a lei hanging around his neck.
After he scored the game-winning goal against Dartmouth on senior night, no one was even going to question where he got it. He certainly didn't question where the ball went after his final touch. He just knew.
“I don't even know where it went in,” the senior said. “I took the shot, and I thought, 'If I know my physics, that's going in.' And then I ran.”
Regan knew his physics indeed. In a thrilling double overtime time with gigantic Ivy League and NCAA Tournament implications, Regan's game winner set off a wild celebration for the No. 15 men's soccer team and the 711 fans in attendance for a freezing, rainy night at Berman Field.
Cornell got more great news from Providence, R.I., as Brown tied Yale 1-1 to make Cornell's win Saturday one that puts the team in sole possession of first place in the conference with one game to go. With a win at Columbia next weekend, the Big Red will claim its first Ivy League title since 1995 and its first outright title since 1977.
Cornell (14-1, 5-1 Ivy League) came from behind in the game, giving up the first goal to the visiting Big Green (8-7, 4-2) but scoring two in the end to break the teams' tie for second place in the league.
Regan's goal, came thanks to a ball into the box first played by teammate Stephen Reisert, who had the Big Red's first goal. Reisert took a shot that was blocked by a Dartmouth defender in front. Regan was there for the rebound, but his shot was blocked again by a man in green. Finally, another rebound went right back to him, and Regan's aim was true to end his home career on a spectacular high note.
The Big Red bench immediately cleared as the players rushed to the stands, celebrating with the fan who stuck it out through temperatures in the low 30s and misting rain all night.
Cornell's win also came in its first overtime contest of the year. The team had six overtime games last year, and all ended in ties. Saturday night marked the team's first overtime victory since Nov. 13, 2009 against Columbia.
The Big Red's victory was its first over the Big Red since 2006 and is the most wins the team has had since it racked up 15 in 1995. Cornell also earned a fifth Ivy League win for the first time since 1995, the year of its last title.
The evening did not start out well for the Big Red. A perfectly executed free kick from the right of the penalty box by Dartmouth captain Kevin Dzierzawski landed far post on the head of Colin Heffron, and the sophomore's header was on target to give the Big Green a 1-0 lead on its first shot of the night just before the 29-minute mark.
The Big Red did not stay behind for long. Ninety-three seconds after Heffron's score, Reisert put his shot in the back of the net. The play began with a long ball from midfielder Ben Williams. The ball bounced to Reisert in the left side of the penalty box, and he moved closer to goal with a dribble. His shot went high, off the fingers of Dartmouth goalie Noah Cohen, and into the back of the net to tie it up.
The rest of the night saw terrific chances for both sides. Cornell ended the evening with nine shots on goal to Dartmouth's eight, and Big Red keeper Rick Pflasterer had a season-high nine saves. The senior's best moment of the night game less than a minute into the second half when Dartmouth's Patrick Murray had a shot that Pflasterer saved from point blank range. The rebound went right to Brad Jacobson, and the shot deflected off Pflasterer's fingers and off the crossbar. He also had two saves in the first overtime to keep the night alive for Cornell.
Cornell's starting 11 played most of the night. The team only used one substitute – sophomore Devin Morgan – as nine players saw all 102:37 of game time. The back line of Jake Kirsch, Peter Chodas, Patrick Slogic and Jake Rinow held strong most of the evening, while midfielders Nico Nissl, Atticus DeProspo, Reisert and Williams also never left the game.
The Big Red has a chance to claim the Ivy League title when it travels to Columbia next weekend. The teams will kick off at 7 p.m.
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