Despite cruising to a respectable 5-3-2 record in non-conference play, the men’s soccer team remains in pursuit of that elusive first Ivy win. Having endured a tough week of practice –– one senior forward Matt Bouraee described as “our hardest since preseason” –– the Red hopes its efforts will translate to a “W” when the team travels to Princeton, N.J., tomorrow for a 7 p.m. rendezvous with the Tigers.

“We’ve done well out of conference, but in the Ivy League we haven’t been too fortunate, even though we’ve played very well,” said Bouraee, who is second on the team in scoring with three goals. “We just want to come out with positive results and finish strong.”

Cornell (5-5-4, 0-2-2 Ivy) is coming off a 1-0 loss to Brown on Saturday at home –– extending its scoreless streak to 218 consecutive minutes of play over the span of three games. Meanwhile, sophomore Antoine Hoppenot scored both of Princeton’s goals en route to the Tigers’ 2-1 double overtime upset of nationally-ranked Harvard on Saturday in Cambridge, Mass. The win was Princeton’s first over a ranked team this season. With the victory, the Tigers (7-5-2, 2-2 Ivy) move to .500 in Ancient Eight play and remain unbeaten in their last four games.

“Princeton’s a really good soccer team; they move the ball well,” said junior midfielder Scott Caldwell, who, along with Bouraee, leads the Red in assists with six. “If you give them space and time they’re going to be very effective and look to capitalize on those chances. We want to high pressure them from the start, and make it very hard for them to play, and not allow them to settle down and play through us.”

According to Bouraee, the team had a well-rounded week of practice that focused on finishing, playing in front of the goal and “just shooting in general. The defense ... also worked on clearances. ... The goalies got a lot of training with all the solid shooting.”

Although head coach Jaro Zawislan has not yet named tomorrow’s starting goalie, he has two solid options in junior Scott Brody and freshman Rich Pflasterer. Brody has started every game in goal for Cornell, with the exception of the last two against Lafayette and Brown. Pflasterer, on the other hand, boasts a .857 save percentage in two games with the Red –– including a 0-0 shutout of Lafayette.

One thing is for certain: The Red will have to find a way to mobilize its offense if it hopes to come out of this weekend with a victory and move out of last place in the Ivy League standings.

“[Our execution] in the final third is lacking; we’re not getting the goals that we need to win these games,” Caldwell said. “I’m proud of how hard we’re fighting ... I just want us to get some of the results that I think we deserve.”