ITHACA, N.Y. – Top-seeded Cornell and second-seeded Penn advanced to the championship game of the 2026 Ivy League Men's Soccer Tournament following semifinal victories on Thursday afternoon at Berman Field.

Cornell (12-3-1) rallied from a one-goal deficit to defeat fourth-seeded Harvard, 2-1, while Penn (8-3-5) earned a 3-1 victory over third-seeded Yale to secure its spot in the championship match. The Big Red and Quakers will meet in the tournament final with the Ivy League's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament on the line.

SEMIFINAL 1: No. 1 Cornell 2, No. 4 Harvard 1
Cornell scored twice in the final 10 minutes to erase a one-goal deficit and earn a dramatic 2-1 comeback victory over Harvard in the opening semifinal.

After a scoreless first half, Harvard's Adam Poliakov broke the deadlock in the 59th minute, converting a penalty kick to give the Crimson a 1-0 advantage. 

The Big Red finally broke through in the 81st minute when Blake Donahue finished a pass from Nate Hovan to level the match at 1-1. Just over six minutes later, Griffin Eck delivered the game-winning goal in the 87th minute, capitalizing on a rebound following a Cornell corner kick.

Cornell goalkeeper Reuben Clarson recorded one save in the victory, while Harvard's Jason Broome made eight saves to keep the Crimson within striking distance. Cornell also held a 10-1 advantage in corner kicks.

SEMIFINAL 2: No. 2 Penn 3, No. 3 Yale 1
In the second semifinal of the evening, Penn used a pair of second-half goals to defeat Yale, 3-1, and advance to the championship game. Joaquin Niehenke opened the scoring in the 39th minute, as his cross from the right wing went straight into the bottom corner to give the Quakers a 1-0 lead heading into halftime.

Yale responded early in the second half, leveling the match at 1-1 in the 53rd minute. Daniel Grumann netted his first goal of the season, finishing a chance created by Sven Meacham and Nathan Harmon. The Bulldogs continued to generate opportunities throughout the second half, recording 11 shots over the final 45 minutes.

Penn quickly regained the advantage in the 59th minute when Niehenke's dangerous cross into the box was turned into the net by a Bulldogs defender. Penn added an insurance goal in the 84th minute when Adam Ambrus-Aikelin scored his fourth goal of the season on a counterattack following a Yale corner kick.

Both teams finished with 17 shots, while Penn goalkeeper Phillip Falcon III made six saves to preserve the victory. Bottene led the Quakers with seven shots, while Niehenke finished with three points on a goal and an assist. Yale's Ryder Mills recorded four shots, including three on target, in the losing effort.

With the victory, Penn advances to Sunday's championship game to face top-seeded Cornell for the Ivy League Tournament title and an automatic berth in the NCAA Tournament.