Penn beats Cornell in overtime in Ivy League opener

Senior forward Alec Neumann (New Hope, Pa.) scored a golden goal in the 103rd minute to lead Penn to the 2-1 win over Cornell in their Ivy League opener on Sunday.

The goal was the second of the game for Neumann, who leads the team and the league with six goals. His first came less than two minutes into the second half off a feed from Joe Swenson.

Swenson was also credited with the assist on the game winner, his first points of the season.

The Quakers (3-1-4) appeared to be headed to a 1-0 win when Jack Ferguson headed home an equalizer off a cross from Ryan Watters in the 87th minute to send the game to overtime and pave the way for Neumann’s heroics.

Penn goalkeeper Etan Mabourakh made seven saves in his return to the starting XI after a game off. Cornell’s keeper, Ryan Shellow, made five saves, including a couple one-on-one chances created by Penn freshman Dami Omitaomu.

Penn’s overtime win was their second of the season – they beat La Salle 1-0 in overtime on September 17 – and the sixth time they’ve played extra soccer this season. They were the only Ivy League team to win in the opening weekend – the other three games all ended in draws.

Next up for the Quakers is a return home to Rhodes Field to host non-conference foe Delaware on Wednesday night at 7 p.m. They’ll return to conference play on Saturday at home against Columbia at 7:30 p.m.