Box Score (PDF)
Coach Farmer's Postgame Interview
Photo Gallery

ITHACA, N.Y. — Sophomore Paige DeLoach and freshman Jessica Ritchie scored goals, and the women's soccer team turned in its second dominant performance of the young season with a 2-0 victory over Loyola on Sunday at Berman Field.

"We told them that we thought we needed improvement from Friday to Sunday, and I think we saw that," head coach Patrick Farmer said. "I think we kept the ball in better places ... and there was a little better communication today for the defense."
 
Playing August home games for the first time in program history, Cornell (1-0-1) countered the late summer sun and heat Sunday by using its depth. The Big Red used 22 players in all, and the result was essentially a crescendo that led to similar territorial dominance that the home side enjoyed in Friday's draw against Siena.

The big difference was breaking through offensively. That started in the 34th minute, after sophomore forward Erin Fitzgerald drew a foul about five yards outside the right corner of the penalty area. Freshman defender Zoe McCormick hit a low cross just over the heads of the two defenders in the wall, and Ritchie sent a glancing header from 12 yards toward goal that eventually went in after another slight deflection.

"I like the idea that we got to play a bunch of people, and a lot of kids that came on — some who hadn't ever played (in college) before — they all did a good job," Farmer said. "I saw some growth today, and everybody likes to see that in the second game."
 
The Big Red doubled the lead about 20 minutes later in the early stages of the second half with another goal that originated with a restart. Junior midfielder Elizabeth Crowell took a corner kick from the right side that sailed deeper than the far post. Senior co-captain Shanay Fischer headed the ball back toward the middle and after a couple bounces, freshman midfielder Rowan Glass took a beautiful shot from about 25 yards. The ball bounced off the post to goalkeeper's left and out to DeLoach, who tucked a shot inside the opposite post for her second career goal. DeLoach also scored in the Big Red's second game of the 2014 season, leading to a 1-0 victory over Marist.
 
As was the case Friday, junior goalkeeper Kelsey Tierney was called upon sparsely in recording the shutout. It took 185 minutes and 25 seconds before she was called upon to make her first stop of the season, when she easily corralled a shot from Sarah Ensor. Tierney's second and final save required more effort, and she confidently snagged a solid header from Lexy Andrews off a Mia Sardella header with less than four minutes remaining. Tierney now has eight career shutouts.
 
The Big Red enjoyed a 17-6 advantage in shots and 9-2 edge in corner kicks. Folan made five saves in the loss for Loyola (0-4), at least half of which required her to leave her feet. About midway through the first half, she got her left hand to a strong offering from sophomore forward Meera Dheer when the game was still scoreless. Ritchie then made a bid for her second of the day in the closing minutes of the first half, but Folan once again made a diving stop to her left.
 
Cornell returns to action at St. Bonaventure's Alumni Classic next weekend. The Big Red kicks off the tournament at 4 p.m. Friday against Cleveland State, then it takes on Akron at noon on Sunday.