Box Score (PDF)
Highlights
Postgame Interview
 
ITHACA, N.Y. — Freshman Jessica Ritchie scored her second career goal, and that once again proved to be enough offense for the women's soccer team in a 1-0 victory over St. Bonaventure on Sunday afternoon at Berman Field. Cornell recorded its sixth consecutive shutout to start the season, and it joins nationally-ranked Rutgers as the only remaining teams in Division I yet to concede a goal.

"We don't talk about it, to be honest," head coach Patrick Farmer said. "But we mentioned it during the pre-game meeting today, and I really do think they're talking about some now. ... I think they're taking some pride in it, which is the way you want it to go — you don't want the coach drive it or the media to drive it."
 
On an abnormially chilly mid-September day, the teams didn't generate many offensive chances in the first half. Only one shot was directed on frame, with junior Elizabeth Crowell uncorking a left-footed shot after a give-and-go with sophomore forward Paige DeLoach, forcing a diving save from St. Bonaventure goalkeeper Christina Sarokon. But Cornell (4-0-2) struck early in the second half, and Ritchie's goal came less than 30 seconds after an opportunity that narrowly missed.

Sophomore defender Whitney Farber delivered a cross that senior midfielder Amanda Gaggioli deftly redirected toward goal, only to have the ball bounce off the far post. St. Bonaventure (3-3-2) took the ensuing goal kick up the right side, but senior defender Charlotte Tate intercepted a pass to take possession. Tate, who was celebrating her birthday, continued her run down the flank before sending a ball back into the box. It skipped off the goalkeeper's hands and eventually out to Ritchie about 12 yards off the far post, and her shot deflected off a defender and alluded Sarokon to give the Big Red the only goal it would need.
 
Junior goalkeeper Kelsey Tierney recorded her sixth shutout of the season, pushing her career total of clean sheets to 12 — which ranks fifth in program history. For the second time this season, she was not called upon to make a single save in the process. The Big Red used a back line of Tate, Farber, junior Kailey Joyce and freshman Zoe McCormick for most of the game, plus junior Taylor Wright as a substitute.

Dating back to its 1-0 shutout of Dartmouth in the 2014 season finale, Cornell now has seven consecutive shutouts for just the second time in its program history. The record is eight games, which started Oct. 10, 1987 with a scoreless draw vs. Harvard and continued into the next season, when the Big Red lost to Princeton, 2-1, on Sept. 17, 1988.
 
Cornell is also undefeated after six games for just the third time in program history. The Big Red started the season 6-0 in 1995 before eventually losing its seventh game, but the record for longest unbeaten streak to start a season was an eight-game streak set in 1986 (7-0-1).
 
The Big Red returns to action at 7 p.m. Thursday at Seton Hall before returning to Ithaca for a Homecoming weekend matchup with Binghamton at 4 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 20.