Oh, Those Last-Minute Losses

A Crimson field goal attempt hit the crossbar with time running out, clinching Harvard's one-point loss to Cornell on Saturday at Ithaca, N.Y.

Harvard's 28-27 defeat brought its Ivy mark down to 0-2 and its overall record to 1-3, despite the fact that it has scored more points than it has allowed on the season.

Cornell's victory brought its Ivy record up to 2-1 and its overall season record to 3-1.

Free-safety Nick Bombach was named Ivy League Defensive Player of the Week after causing a Harvard fumble that paved the way for Cornell's go-ahead touchdown. Junior running back Eion Hu made a strong showing for the Crimson despite the loss, carrying the ball 29 times for 95 yards and two touchdowns.

Senior quarterback Vin Ferrara moved into fifth place on the Crimson's all-time passing list with 178 yards against Cornell, pushing his career total yardage to 2,259. With another 76 yards this week against Holy Cross at Harvard Stadium, Ferrara can move into fourth place in the Crimson record book.

UPen(n)ded

Something happened for the first time in 25 chances--Pennsylvania (3-1, 1-1) lost a football game.

In a surprise win over Ivy football stronghold Pennsylvania, Columbia notched its Ivy record to an undefeated 2-0 (2-1-1 overall). The Lions won 24-14, snapping the Quakers' NCAA-best winning streak at 24 games.

Columbia quarterback Mike Cavanaugh threw for 147 yards, completed 10 of 15 passes and carried the ball for 92 yards and two touchdowns. Cavanaugh's all-around stellar play earned him Ivy League Offensive Player of the Week honors.

The successful play of the Lions revealed the talent of many Columbia athletes. Ivy League Rookie of the Week honors went to linebacker Paul Roland, who made 11 tackles, eight of which were unassisted.

In another Ancient Eight matchup, undefeated Princeton edged Brown 21-19. The Tigers are now in possession of the Ivy League's longest current winning streak at six games.

Down in the first half 13-7, the Tigers roared back with a 14 point third quarter to beat the Bears (2-2, 0-2). The Princeton squad experienced a second-half surge for the second week in a row, and its record now stands at 4-0 overall, 2-0 Ivy.

In non-conference games, Dartmouth and Yale pulled out victories.

Dartmouth edged Lafayette, 14-7. The Big Green have yet to lose out side the Ivy League, but it has yet to win in Ivy play. Dartmouth (2-2, 0-2) is set to head down to the Yale Bowl on Saturday for the lone Ivy matchup of the week.

With a score of 28-17, Yale was victorious over Holy Cross, pushing its overall record to 2-2 (1-0 Ivy). The Elis snapped a two game skid and finished their non-league schedule with a 1-2 record.

Fresh off the shocking loss to Columbia--the potential Cinderella team of the season--Penn will look to improve its overall record with a game at William and Mary. Columbia, buoyed up with the confidence of victory, faces Lehigh.

Cornell faces Bucknell, and Princeton hopes to remain undefeated as it faces Lafayette.

Harvard, meanwhile, hopes to rebound from its touch loss to Cornell with a stronger showing in a non-league game versus Holy Cross, and it then returns to Ivy League against Princeton on October 21.