Box Score Box Score

ITHACA, N.Y. -- Sophomore Brenna Mockler scored her first collegiate goal with 7.8 seconds remaining in the second half, leading the women's soccer team to a dramatic 5-4 victory over Albany on Sunday afternoon at Berman Field. Freshman midfielder Elizabeth Crowell had a goal and three assists, sparking the Big Red to its highest single-game goal output since 2010.

Mockler's goal capped a wild final minute of play. Albany (1-6) tied the score at 4 with a perfect looping shot from 25 yards by Allison Carhart, who tucked the ball just inside the left post and under the bar with 42.1 seconds remaining. Cornell (3-1-1) immediately countered, with sophomore forward Caroline Growney being played into space on the right side. Her centering attempt was deflected over the end line, giving the Big Red its 15th corner kick of the game. Crowell was once again on the serving end, placing a perfect out-swinger about eight yards off the far post, where Mockler rushed on for an open header into the net. In five games this season, the Big Red has already equaled its win total from the last two years combined.

The game was physical from start to finish, producing 20 fouls -- 14 from the visitors. Cornell held a decided edge in possession and scoring opportunities, directing 17 of its 31 shots on cage. But Albany was able to score first, with Alexa Schneider heading in a 40-yard free-kick service from Stephanie Nelle in the seventh minute.

The Big Red regrouped and took control of the match. Senior midfielder Rachel Nichols forced a diving save from the Great Danes' keeper about 15 minutes in, then Crowell's shot two minutes later was directed off the right post. Crowell tied the game in the 19th minute with her second collegiate goal -- coming in almost identical fashion as her first in Friday's win over Marist. Freshman midfielder/forward Dempsey Banks gathered about 25 yards from goal and beat her defender to the outside before crossing to Crowell in the middle, who finished to the keeper's right.

Cornell took its first lead of the game on sophomore midfielder Shanay Fischer's goal in the 29th minute off a scramble, with the ball clanking off the right post before the assistant referee indicated the ball had crossed the goal line before it was cleared away. It was the first collegiate goal for Fischer, who joined the Big Red via transfer in the offseason after recording a pair of assists last season with Saint Peter's.

The trend of first-time collegiate scorers continue in the second half, when Growney and Banks both converted around an Albany strike, making the score 4-2. Growney's goal was set up by a terrific run by freshman defender Taylor Wright. After winning the ball in the midfielder, Wright worked a give-and-go with Crowell toward the right corner, then crossed to Growney for the header from close range. Banks' goal in the 74th minute came off a feed from Crowell -- her second assist on the day.

Now the Big Red's leading scorer with seven points through five games, Crowell became just the fourth player in the program history to have at least three assists in a game. Amy Snow was the last to accomplish the feat against Monmouth on Sept. 15, 1991. Cornell has seven goals and five assists over its last two games, with all but one goal coming from a freshman or sophomore.

Senior Tori Christ and freshman Dana Daniels, making her collegiate goalkeeping debut, combined to make three saves for the Big Red. Cornell wraps up a three-game home stand at 5 p.m. Wednesday against Binghamton.