Box Score
ITHACA, N.Y. — Despite holding a commanding 19-4 advantage in shots and a dominating edge in play, the women's soccer team dropped a 1-0 game to Bucknell on Saturday afternoon at Charles F. Berman Field. The Big Red was largely in control, but couldn't find a way through Bison goalkeeper Sandita McDermott.
Cornell started a season-high three freshmen — Claire MacManus, Kerry Schubert and Sydney Cetrullo — with all of them playing a factor in near-misses for the host squad. Schubert provided a constant threat on the left flank, firing six shots on the day. The first came in the 11th minute, when Alysse Godino sent a ball into the box that Schubert ran on to before clanking a shot off the near post. Ten minutes later, Cetrullo sent Schubert past the defense again, but McDermott was quick off her line to cut down the angle and knock down Schubert's shot.
The Bison countered a short time later, cashing in their only quality chance of the day. Megan DeGennaro took a throw-in along the left side about 25 yards from the Big Red end line that soared over the defense onto the foot of Liz Dwornik. She sent a cross into the box that Chelsey Garkowski fielded before beating Cornell keeper Kelly Murphy to the far post.
The Big Red had a 10-3 edge in shots over the first 45 minutes, nearly getting on the board in the 36th minute. Junior Xandra Hompe took a corner kick from the left side that senior Sidra Bonner headed just wide of the far post. It was Cornell's best chance of the day, but not its last.
The entire second half was played with the fervor of the waning minutes of a one-goal game. In the 59th minute, MacManus won a ball in the air to give Cornell possession. Godino then sent Schubert away on another quality scoring chance, though her shot sailed over the crossbar. Five of Cornell's seven corner kicks came in the second half, but most were punched away by McDermott. She finished the game with seven saves for her second shutout of the season.
Cornell (0-4) will wrap up its four-game homestand at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 14 against Binghamton University.
