NEW YORK CITY – Senior
Michael Hewes played the hero role once again, converting on a penalty kick goal early in the first half as the University of Pennsylvania men's soccer team snuck past Columbia, 1-0, Saturday afternoon at Rocco B. Commisso Soccer Stadium.
The Quakers improve to 6-3-5 overall with a 3-1-2 record in Ivy play, while the Lions remain winless in conference play at 0-5-1, falling to 2-8-3 overall.
Quaker Notemeal
*Penn extends its winning streak to three in a row and has won back-to-back decisions over Columbia. The Quakers are unbeaten against the Lions since Oct. 13, 2019.
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Michael Hewes scored his team-high seventh goal of the season in the 13th minute. It was also his second by way of the penalty kick.
*Hewes,
Mateo Zazueta, and
Oliver Pratt accounted for the three Quaker shots on goal.
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Erickson Sakalosky played a career-high 25 minutes against the Lions.
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Nick Christoffersen made four saves—including a crucial stop in the 23rd minute, getting his glove on a free kick that kept the Lions off the board—and recorded his seventh shutout of the year.
*Shots finished even, 10-10, while Columbia had the edge in shots on goal, 4-3.
*After today's events around the league, the Quakers clinched a spot in the 2023 Ivy League Tournament.
How It Happened
Columbia had the match's first opportunity in the eighth minute, a shot up top from Joao Lima that was stopped by
Nick Christoffersen.
After two shots off target for the Penn offense,
Mateo Zazueta had his chance saved by the keeper in the 13th minute.
Stas Korzeniowski missed a shot 15 seconds later, but a foul in the box had the Quakers at the penalty spot at the 12:57 mark.
Michael Hewes converted his seventh goal of the year—second by way of the PK—to give Penn a 1-0 lead.
Christoffersen kept the Lions off the scoresheet for the remainder of the first half, making two saves—including a clutch stop off a free kick in the 23rd minute—as the Quakers headed into the locker room holding onto a one-goal edge.
Penn maintained a first-half lead in shots, 6-4, and had the advantage in saves (3-1) and corner kicks (3-1).
Columbia was awarded three corner kick opportunities to open the second half, failing to convert on all of them, while Penn recorded just one shot—from Zazueta—in the first 22 minutes of the period.
Oliver Pratt had the Quakers' first shot on goal of the second half in the 71st minute, getting saved bottom center with a chance to extend the lead.
The Lions had three more corner kick chances to end the second half, unable to capitalize as Penn escaped with the key Ivy win.
Up Next
The Quakers close out the regular season next Saturday against Princeton on Senior Day at Penn Park, kickoff time set for 5 p.m.
#FightOnPenn
