Box Score
Sept. 7, 2002
STONY BROOK, N.Y. - Junior Emily Knight's (Scituate, Mass.) goal off a feed from freshman Shannon Fraser (Hamilton, N.Y.) in the 75th minute proved enough to lift the Cornell women's soccer team to a 1-0 win at Stony Brook on Saturday afternoon at University Field. The season-opening victory for Cornell (1-0) came thanks to a stifling defensive effort that limited Stony Brook to just five shots.
Knight beat the Seawolves' freshman goalkeeper Cindy Bennett midway through the second half after a scoreless first 45 minutes of play. Cornell goalkeeper Katie Thomas (Northridge, Calif.) and her defensive backline did the rest, holding Stony Brook (0-3) to five shots, all stopped by the sophomore. Thomas' fourth career shutout builds on a solid rookie season in which she played every minute between the pipes for the Big Red and posted a respectable 1.25 goals against average.
The Big Red controlled tempo throughout, missing on numerous second half scoring chances before scoring the game-winner at the 74:49 mark. Cornell out-shot Stony Brook 11-5 on the afternoon, including 7-2 in the decisive second half. Senior co-captain Sarah Olsen (Niskayuna, N.Y.) attempted three of the squad's shots, while sophomore Natalie Dew (Encinitas, Calif.) came out of the back for two scoring attempts. The win widened Cornell's advantage in the all-time series to 4-1-1 and gave the Big Red its second consecutive win in a season opener after last season's 4-0 win over Lafayatte.
Stony Brook held a slim advantage in corner kicks (2-1) and used its offside trap successfully on six occasions, limiting Big Red scoring opportunities.
Cornell will open its Ivy League schedule on Saturday, Sept. 14, in a noon start against Columbia. The Big Red holds a 13-3 all-time advantage over the Lions despite dropping a 1-0 decision last season at Berman Field.
CORNELL (1-0) 0 1 - 1
STONY BROOK (0-3) 0 0 - 0
Scoring: Knight (Fraser) 74:49.
Shots: C 11, SB 5.
Corner Kicks: C 1, SB 2.
Fouls: C 5, SB 8.
Offsides: C 6, SB 1.
Saves: C- Thomas 5, SB- Bennett 4.
