PHILADELPHIA – The University of Pennsylvania men's soccer team opens the 2021 campaign this weekend for the first time since 2019, traveling to Fairleigh Dickinson on Friday and hosting Colgate at Rhodes Field on Monday.
 
MATCH DAY 1: Penn at Fairleigh Dickinson
Friday, Sept. 3 | 7 p.m.
Video Stream (NEC Front Row) | Live Stats
 
MATCH DAY 2: Penn vs. Colgate
Monday, Sept. 6 | 7 p.m.
Video Stream (ESPN+) | Live Stats | Spectator COVID-19 Attestation (starts noon on 9/6)
 
Ivy League on ESPN
A reminder that the Ivy League is paired with ESPN and you will be able to find all Penn home games, as well as road Ivy matches and select non-conference road games, on ESPN+ this fall with the same high broadcast quality you've come to expect. ESPN+ is a subscription-based service that offers monthly and yearly packages. Click here to subscribe to ESPN+! (https://plus.espn.com/)
 
The Series with Fairleigh Dickinson
The Quakers have not played against Fairleigh Dickinson since 2012, taking a 3-2 victory at neutral territory during the Princeton Invitational. The last time Penn opened the season against FDU was in 1972, defeating the Knights, 10-0, on the road. That season, the Quakers posted a 14-1-1 overall record and advanced to the NCAA quarterfinals, arguably the best season in program history.
 
About Fairleigh Dickinson
The Knights enter the game sporting a 1-1 record so far this season, opening the year with a 4-1 loss at NJIT. They remained on the road, traveling to Army on Monday, collecting a close 1-0 victory after a goal in the 53rd minute by Edoardo Calzola deemed the game winner.
 
The Series with Colgate
Penn has only played Colgate one time in program history, defeating the Raiders, 3-1, in 1974 at home.
 
About Colgate
The Raiders are looking for their first win of the season, dropping two tight matches to open the 2021 slate. In the home opener, they fell in double overtime to Binghamton, 2-1, before falling in a battle to No. 20 New Hampshire, 1-0.

Quaker Notemeal
*With the 2020 season canceled due to Ivy League regulations regarding the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic, when Penn takes the field on Friday, the Quakers will be playing their first intercollegiate match since November 16, 2019 when they defeated Harvard, 2-0.

*The Quakers return two 2019 All-Ivy selections in graduate Joey Bhangdia and junior Kai Lammers. In 2019, Bhangdia led the team with six goals, while Lammers was a key part of defensive front that posted seven shutouts and just 13 goals across 16 matches.

*Between the pipes, Penn has two returners with collegiate minutes in Dane Jacomen and Nick Christoffersen. In 2019, Jacomen started 14 matches and Christoffersen started the other two. Combined, they recorded seven shutouts, 47 saves, and gave up just 13 goals.

*Since taking the helm in 2018, Coach Gill has had two seasons of .500 or better, accumulating 12 wins. In 2019, he wrapped up the Ivy League with a 3-1-3 record for 12 points and second place in the standings after a strong four-match ending with wins over No. 24 Yale and Harvard and draws against Brown and Princeton.

*The coaching staff has three new faces on the sidelines, including Matt Poplawski, Ryan Sandell and Joshua West. Poplawski rejoins the program after graduating from a successful career with the Quakers in 2017. Sandell comes to Penn after a professional career and a college career as a goalkeeper with Elizabethtown. West takes the role as Director of Operations, as he played his collegiate soccer for William & Mary.