Not since November 2002 has the men's soccer team lost three straight Ivy League games. This weekend against Cornell University, the Bears hope to end their two-game Ivy League skid and return to the brand of soccer that has made them successful.
"I think a lot of people have crossed us off," said Ibrahim Diane '06 of Brown's 1-2 Ivy record. "But we are going to fight until the end."
After losing 1-0 to Harvard University on a goal in the final minute of play last Sunday, Brown left the field despondent. Much of this week, the team focused on several specific parts of its defensive and offensive game, as well as team play in general.
"Right now we are going to take the rest of the season one game at a time," said Ben Brackett '07.
Despite putting many shots on net and many clear scoring chances, the Bears failed to score a goal against Harvard.
"You only get a certain number of chances in a game," Brackett said. "If we had scored on one of those chances, it would have opened up the game."
A problem that continues to plague the Bears is defensive lapses that lead to goals. The coaching staff has stressed maintaining concentration for the entire game.
"It's been a focus of the week," Brackett said. "Every little mistake has been analyzed."
In its past few games, the team has played teams with indirect styles of play and has not been able to execute its specific style of play.
"We get into a kickball kind of game when we play those kind of teams," Diane said. "We are not going to let other teams' styles of play dictate the way we play. We are going to play our type of game."
Against Cornell, Brown plans on bringing the stalwart defense that shut out two top-five-ranked teams earlier this season.
"We are going to be pressuring them and not giving them freebies or any chances," Diane said. "We don't want to play well for 89 minutes and then give up a goal."
In addition to beating an Ivy League team, Brown has the extra incentive for beating Cornell - the team's starting goalie transferred from Brown. David Mahoney left Brown after his sophomore year and has started at Cornell for two years.
"We are always trying to send a message every game, but it's going to be nice to score against him," Diane said. "But he's not the focus. We are focused on scoring and winning."
Brown and Cornell will face off Saturday at 5 p.m. on Stevenson Field.
Herald sports editor Ian Cropp '05 covers men's soccer. He can be reached at herald@browndailyherald.com.
