Roth Regatta

Cornell University – Big Red Men’s Soccer

With 16 juniors and seniors on the roster, a veteran team has been assembled for the 2000 men’s soccer season. After finishing out the 1999 campaign strong, with wins in the final two matches to seal the first finish in the top half of the Ivy League since 1991, the Big Red are set to progress a step further and challenge for an Ivy League crown.

“All of us associated with the program are very much looking forward to the 2000 season,” said head coa

ch Bryan Scales. “We feel as though we have a number of pieces in place to compete with the top teams in our league and nationally. Our goal is to challenge for an Ivy League championship. The players have worked very hard to put themselves in this position and we look forward to the challenge that lies ahead.”

Along with the large number of upperclassmen, the Big Red also returns nine starters from a year ago, providing a level of continuity that will help Cornell to be a dangerous squad bot

h in the region and in the Ivy League.

Abhishek (Abhi) Uppal, Vice-Captain, Big Red Men’s Soccer, Cornell University
At Cornell
A two-time All-Ivy honoree, Uppal earned an all-star team nod after anchoring a stingy Big Red defence that allowed just 16 goals in 15 games. Uppal started all 15 games and tied for the team lead with a pair of goals, while his four points were also tied for the team best. Uppal added the game-winning goal against Yale on Oct. 13, while also scoring the team’s first

goal of the season against Fairfield on Sept. 1. Uppal moved into a leadership role on the back line as a junior, earning honorable mention all-league honors after starting all 14 games and scoring a pair of goals. He appeared in nine games during his freshman season, starting eight times.

Uppal had his 1998 season sidetracked initially by injury, but was still able to make 10 appearances and five starts for the Big Red. He tallied his memorable career goal in the season’s final game against Dartmouth on Nov. 4, scoring in the second overtime to lift the Big Red into a fourth-place tie in the Ivy Leauge.

At St. Francis HS
A four-year letter winner at St. Francis HS, Uppal was a two-time all-district and all-region selection and served as captain of his team as a senior. St. Francis was the state runner-up during his freshman season and the team earned the district championship in 1993. His club team, Herndon Arsenal, reached the finals of the National Capital Soccer League in back-to-back seasons and claimed the title in 1995.