PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – The University of Pennsylvania men's soccer team returns to Rhodes Field on Saturday to host Columbia in an Ivy League matchup on Senior Day. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. as the Quakers look to build on a 3-3 draw against Harvard last weekend.
Columbia (4-4-2, 0-3-2 Ivy League) at Penn (6-3-4, 2-1-2 Ivy League)
Saturday, Oct. 31 | 7 p.m.
Philadelphia, Pa. | Rhodes Field
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The Penn vs. Columbia Series
*The series history between the two squads is neck and neck, with Columbia holding a slight 32-31-9 advantage.
*Last year's matchup ended in a 2-2 draw. Patrick Cayelli '26 and Jack Wagoner '26 recorded Penn's two scores, while Marco Bottene and Cayelli led the offense with four shots. Phillip Falcon III played all 90 minutes between the pipes.
*The Red and Blue have not dropped a contest against the Lions since 2018, posting a 3-0-3 record over that span.
Quaker Notemeal
*The Quakers bring a 6-3-4 record into Saturday's contest, including a 2-1-2 mark in Ivy play.
*Most recently, Penn fought to a 3-3 draw against Harvard. The Red and Blue fought back from 1-0 and 2-1 deficits, briefly taking the lead before the Crimson evened the match in the final minute. Isaac Tortola netted his first career goal, while Marco Bottene and Romeo Dahlen also found the back of the net.
*Penn currently sits in a tie for second place with Yale in the Ancient Eight standings, with eight points.
*With a goal and an assist against Harvard, Bottene added to his Ivy League lead in goals (eight) and points (18). The junior owns a three-goal lead over the next-closest player.
*The Quakers have a variety of scoring threats: Adam Ambrus-Aikelin, Michael Howard, and Jack-Ryan Jeremiah have each netted three goals. On the whole, 10 Red and Blue players have registered a goal this season.
*Since Ivy play began, the Quakers' offense has been evenly distributed. Bottene, Jeremiah, and Dahlen have two goals each, while five different players have found the back of the net since Ancient Eight play began.
*Howard posted three points last week with his assist against Harvard while tallying a score against No. 5 Kansas City.
*The Red and Blue have outshot their opponents in nine of 13 games this season.
*Penn has posted multiple goals in six games this season, netting three goals in two of its past three games. The Quakers have also posted three goals against conference opponents on three occasions this season.
*The Quakers' 25 goals this season are the second-best mark in the conference, as is their 0.54 scoring margin.
*Owen Sullivan and Joaquin Niehenke lead Penn with three assists apiece.
*Falcon III has started all 13 games between the pipes, earning six wins with a 1.40 goals-against average.
*Penn has scored 15 of its 26 goals in the second half, including all three against Harvard last weekend.
*On the season, Penn has outscored and outshot its opponents while racking up more assists, more corner kicks, and fewer fouls.
*Penn has received nine yellow cards through 13 games, compared with 29 for its opponents.
*Today's contest marks the Quakers' Senior Day. The group of 10 has contributed immensely over their time in University City, combining for 14 goals, 22 assists, and 48 points. In net, Falcon has posted 27 wins, a 0.95 goals-against average, and a .761 save percentage over the course of his career. Over the course of their time at Penn, the group has tallied 35 wins, 54 points in Ivy play, two regular-season conference titles, three Ivy tournament appearances, and an NCAA tournament experience.
*The Red and Blue can clinch a spot in this year's Ivy League tournament with the following scenarios: a win over Columbia AND if Princeton beats or ties Harvard; a win over Columbia AND if Brown beats or ties Dartmouth; a win over Columbia AND if Yale beats or ties Cornell; or a tie against Columbia AND if Yale beats or ties Cornell AND if Harvard and Princeton tie AND if Brown and Dartmouth tie.
Last Time Out
*Penn traveled to Cambridge on Saturday, earning a 3-3 draw against Harvard.
*The Quakers rallied from 1-0 and 2-1 deficits before taking a 3-2 lead, but the Crimson equalized in the final minute.
*Freshman Isaac Tortola scored his first career goal, while junior Marco Bottene recorded a goal and an assist. Senior Romeo Dahlen also found the back of the net, and senior Michael Howard added an assist.
*Penn finished with a 12-10 advantage in shots, including nine second-half attempts, and held a 6-4 edge in corner kicks.
Scouting the Lions
*Columbia enters Saturday's contest at 4-4-4 overall and 0-3-2 in Ivy League play.
*The Lions are the only Ancient Eight program without a conference win this season, placing last in the standings.
*Columbia dropped its most recent contest to Yale, 1-0, last weekend.
*The Lions have found the back of the net just twice in Ivy play and have been shut out three times.
*On the season, Columbia has posted the second-fewest goals in the league (14) but has also allowed the third-fewest. The Lions are also in the top half of the conference in assists (third), shots (third), and save percentage (third).
*Columbia wraps up nonconference play against Hofstra on Tuesday.
*Senior Jack McDavid leads the way offensively. The midfielder's four goals and four assists both lead the team. His four goals are tied for third-highest in the conference, while his 12 points are tied for fourth in the league.
*McDavid's four assists are tied for the team lead with junior Luke Zielinski. Zielinski is second on the squad with eight points.
*Ethan Heyward is second on the team with three goals.
*Seven different players have found the back of the net for Columbia, while 13 have posted a point.
*Sophomore Aris Taki has started 10 of 12 games in goal. The Cyprus native has racked up all four of the team's wins, with an .821 save percentage, a 0.70 goals-against average, and five shutouts.
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