PHILADELPHIA – The University of Pennsylvania men's soccer team returns to Rhodes Field on Tuesday night for a 6 p.m. bout with Delaware. The hosts secured their second win of the 2026 campaign last time out on Saturday (9/12) in a dramatic 2-1 victory over BIG EAST foe Seton Hall.
 
Penn (2-1, 0-0 Ivy League) vs. Delaware (3-2-2, 0-0 Summit League)
Tuesday, Sept. 15 | 6 p.m.
Philadelphia, Pa. | Rhodes Field
Watch on ESPN+ | Live Stats
 
The Penn vs. Delaware Series
*The Red and Blue hold the all-time series lead against Delaware with a 3-1-2 mark through six past meetings. Both teams met during the 2025 campaign and the Blue Hens were the first team to hand the Quakers a loss, capturing a 1-0 win in Newark thanks to Freddy Jeffrey's match-winning goal in the 25th minute. Prior to that defeat, Penn boasted a four-match unbeaten streak that spanned back to the 1997 season. Its most recent triumph over Delaware was a 2-1 result at Rhodes Field in 2018.
 
*Both sides shared the pitch for the first time during the 1996 season, which ended in a 1-1 draw that featured overtime in Newark.
 
Quaker Notemeal
*Through three matches this season, junior Marco Bottene has been a constant threat to opposing backlines. The Hermosa Beach, Calif. native guided the Red and Blue past Monmouth (4-1) with a brace in just 17 minutes and continued to turn heads over the weekend against Seton Hall. The forward netted back-to-back goals in the span of two minutes down the stretch against the Pirates to help secure a 2-1 comeback victory. Bottene went on to claim Ivy League Offensive Player of the Week laurels and leads the Ivy League in goals (4) and goals per game (1.33).

*Upperclassmen Owen Sullivan and Michael Howard were also instrumental in the win over Seton Hall. Sullivan provided a quality assist to Bottene in the 81st minute to level the contest and Howard's assist two minutes led to a late turnaround at Rhodes Field.

*Adam Ambrus-Aikelin and Mario Stoka are responsible for Penn's two other goals so far this season. Both attackers opened their collegiate accounts in the 4-1 victory over Monmouth.

*Senior defender Joaquin Niehenke currently paces the Quakers in assists this season after registering two during their season opener against Monmouth. The Morristown, N.J. native is one of three Penn players to have played the entirety of the team's first three matches, along with defensive leaders Connor Dawson and Phillip Falcon III.

*Falcon III has solidified himself as the Red and Blue's primary goalkeeper, playing all 257 available minutes so far in 2026. In three starts, the senior has made 11 saves and holds a .786 save percentage, which ranks fourth in the Ivy League. Falcon III and Penn's defensive unit are still seeking its first shutout of the campaign.

*Sophomore Phil Pak has recorded a career-high 58 minutes in his last two appearances and has consistently been one of head coach Brian Gill's first options off the bench. The midfield rotation of Jack-Ryan Jeremiah, George Herbert and Pak are expected to be key contributors throughout 2026.

*The hosts earned the third-place spot in the Ivy League men's soccer preseason poll, securing 94 points. Reigning Ivy League Tournament champions Princeton were picked to finish first with 123 points and 14 first-place votes, followed by Cornell with 111 points and two first-place votes. Harvard rounded out the top four spots with 79 points.
 
*Penn returns a wealth of experience to the pitch for the 2026 season, including All-Ivy honorees Romeo Dahlen, Dawson, Falcon III, and Jeremiah along with upperclassmen Malachi Neal, Sullivan, Herbert, Bottene, and Niehenke. Jeremiah, Dawson, Niehenke, and Sullivan were named team captains ahead of the program's season opener.
 
*Nine freshmen were added to the program during the offseason and are eager to make an early impact in Red and Blue. The newcomers are Wyatt Bonos, Leo Doyle, Ethan Kim, Landry Moncrief, Jasper Moorhead, Ian Paola, Mario Stoka, Isaac Tortola, and Hayes Weller.
 
Scouting the Blue Hens
*Delaware comes into Tuesday's matchup with a 3-2-2 record and most recently earned a draw (2-2) over the weekend against Mount St. Mary's (9/12). The Blue Hens began 2026 with a pair of 1-0 wins over Howard (8/20) and Temple (8/23) before then No. 6 Georgetown handed them their first loss. The visitors' second loss came in a 4-3 result on the road at then No. 2 Maryland.
 
*Frederik Flaskager stands as the Blue Hens' most dangerous attacking option with four goals and eight points to his name in seven matches. Freddy Jeffreys has also been a standout for Delaware, notching two goals and two assists from his role in midfield. Four other players—German Argueta, Liam Penny, Mason Booz, and Marius Stenner—have all found the back of the net this season.
 
*In the Summit League preseason poll, Delaware was picked to finish second among its conference foes with 21 points and one first-place vote. Reigning Summit League regular season champion, Kansas City, was predicted to place first with 25 points and five first-place votes. Rich Monath and Stenner were also tabbed as players to watch by the conference's head coaches.

*Delaware has outscored its opponents 10-7 through its first seven matches and are averaging 1.43 goals per game and 14.1 shots per game.  
 
*The Quakers are likely to be met by graduate student Eric Widrick in goal, having played the full 90 minutes in seven matches this season. He's the only Blue Hen to play all 630 available minutes this campaign. Widrick currently sits on 26 saves and holds a .788 save percentage ahead of Tuesday's matchup.