Box Score Box Score

ITHACA, N.Y. -- Sophomore Shanay Fischer and freshman Dempsey Banks scored first-half goals in their first Ivy League games, and the women's soccer team's defense stood tall once against in front of freshman goalkeeper Kelsey Tierney to secure a 2-0 victory over Columbia on Friday night at Berman Field. The victory pushes Cornell to 6-2-1 overall and 1-0 in the Ivy League -- the team's first league victory since 2010.

Senior midfielder Rachel Nichols assisted both goals, which were scored about 12 minutes apart. Fischer scored her second goal of the season in the 20th minute after Nichols and freshman Elizabeth Crowell worked the ball across the field from right to left about 25 yards off the Columbia end line. Lined up with the left post, Fischer calmly collected the ball and stepped into a shot from around the top of the 18-yard box that beat Columbia goalkeeper Grace Redmon high to the near post.

Columbia (4-3-1, 0-1 Ivy) countered with its best opportunity of the night about two minutes later. Making a run down the middle, Beverly Leon set up Elly McGuffog for an open shot from about 15 yards, but the ball screamed just wide of the far post.

The Big Red added an insurance goal with 13:40 remaining in the half. Nichols served a ball from the right side near the end line, finding Banks at the far post. The freshman forward headed the ball down, sending a bouncer just past Redmon's left hand.

Banks made a strong bid for a second goal just 50 seconds into the second half, when she made a run around a defender on the right side and forced Redmon to make a strong diving save to her left. Columbia largely held the advantage in play for the balance of the second half, but couldn't get on the board against Tierney and 90-minute efforts from defenders Kelly Abrams, Kailey Joyce, Charlotte Tate and Taylor Wright.

Tierney, who entered the day in the top 20 in the country in both goals-against average and save percentage, was called upon to make just three easy saves for her second collegiate shutout. She is also the reigning Ivy League Rookie of the Week.

The Big Red's last Ivy League win came on Oct. 16, 2010, when Maneesha Chitanvis '13 scored the lone goal in a 1-0 victory over Yale at Berman Field. Cornell will attempt to notch a second Ivy victory for the first time since 2002 when it visits Penn at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 4.