ITHACA, N.Y. – Hannah Pinkus netted a late goal and
Sophia Boggs recorded five saves to lead the Colgate women's soccer team to a 1-0 victory over Cornell on Tuesday night in non-conference action at Berman Field.
In a defensive stalemate, Pinkus' game-winner came on a rebound in the 82nd minute.
Abby Sotomayor sent a cross to the center of the box and Pinkus cranked a shot on target. The initial save was made but the rebound came straight back to her, where she settled the loose ball and quickly potted her second goal of the season high into the net for the winning strike.
Boggs was lights out in the first half, tallying five saves to keep the match scoreless after 45 minutes. One of her biggest saves came in the 11th minute when Liza Mariner broke past the Raider back line and raced in on a breakaway. Mariner put a low shot on frame but Boggs dove to her left and got a piece of it to deflect it wide.
Cornell earned better possession early in the first half, but Boggs stood tall and was up to the task. She made another leaping save on a point blank shot from Mariner inside the 18-yard box later in the half and shifted momentum to Colgate's side down the stretch.
Colgate's best opportunity came in the final seconds of the term when
Nicole Apuzzi created space and rifled a shot toward the upper right corner of the net. Big Red keeper Nicole Shulman leaped to make the save and the two teams went into halftime deadlocked at 0-0.
The Raiders manufactured early scoring chances out of the gates in the second stanza.
Ruby Diodati served a pair of corner kicks into the box but the Big Red cleared.
Caelyn Smith spun a cross into the box and the ball was loose momentarily before Cornell regained possession.
Apuzzi came away with another strong opportunity after Sotomayor stretched a perfect pass toward the center of the field. Apuzzi settled the pass and beamed another high shot on target, forcing Shulman to leave her feet for the save.
After registering five saves in the first half, Boggs was not tested in the second half. Colgate outshot Cornell 7-4 in the second half after the Big Red held an 8-1 advantage at the break. The score remained deadlocked until Pinkus' game-winning strike in the 82nd minute.
BOTTOM LINE
Colgate 1, Cornell 0
QUOTES
Head Coach Kathy Brawn
On the win:
"This gives us some important momentum going into a league game. Everything is narrowly focused for us now. We know we need to win. Boston University is coming in feeling the same way, and it is going to be a battle, but we are going to come in prepared for it."
On the strong second half:
"We did make adjustments in the second half, but we were doing a lot of good things that we were looking for in the first half. These players have been working so hard and training so hard. To see our women go out on the field and be ready for the moment was outstanding."
On Boggs' five-save shutout:
"Sophia reads the game really well. Our back line had not played together all together in a game all season, and tonight they played as one unit. Sophia anchored the whole thing. She was a big boost for our momentum in the first half."
NOTABLES
- Boggs recorded her first start of the season and finished with five saves.
- Her five saves in the first half alone matched her career high in a game.
- Boggs improved to 5-0-2 for her career and has four shutouts.
- Pinkus' marker was her first career game-winning goal.
- Her two goals are tied with Emily Amano and Sage DiGiulio for the team lead.
- Colgate extended its unbeaten streak against Cornell to five straight.
- The Raiders over that span have not conceded a goal to the Big Red.
UP NEXT
Colgate looks to carry its momentum into an important Patriot League match at Boston University on Saturday. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m.
