Box Score (PDF)
 
ITHACA, N.Y. — The women's soccer team made a late push for an equalizer Sunday, but a San Diego State goal on a penalty kick inside the final minute of the first half proved to be the difference in a 1-0 decision at Berman Field.
 
With an eye toward a challenging Ivy League schedule, Cornell (2-3) continues to weave its way through the most challenging non-league schedule the program has seen in years. The Big Red has now lost three straight over that stretch and while it had strong showings in recent setbacks to Syracuse and nationally-ranked Rutgers, Cornell struggled to find its stride in the first half against San Diego State (1-4). The Aztecs steretched the field and used speed on the flanks to create opportunities and eventually ended the game with a commanding 11-1 advantage in corner kicks.
 
"We've been after them to play faster, to be more decisive and to play with more pizzazz, and I think we lost to a team that showed that they play faster and have more pizzazz," head coach Patrick Farmer said. "I hope we learn by example, even though it wasn't ours so much as theirs."
 
But the Big Red didn't concede to any free kicks or failed clearances, and it was able to generate three quality scoring chances in the first half alone. Freshman forward Kennedy Yearby's one-touch pass in the middle third sent junior forward Paige DeLoach racing into space on the left side before her shot toward the far post was swatted away by diving SDSU goalkeeper Gabby English in the 11th minute.
 
About 15 minutes later, senior defender Kailey Joyce took a shot from about 25 yards that descended just over the crossbar, then a pretty sequence of passes from freshman midfielder Juliana Comer, senior midfielder Elizabeth Crowell and junior forward Meera Dheer set up senior forward Dana Daniels from about 10 yards in the 40th minute, but her shot went wide of the near post.
 
San Diego State finally struck with 47.8 seconds remaining in the first half on a penalty kick goal from defender Victoria Barba. The PK was awarded after a foul in the box when a pretty through ball from Aliyah Utush sent Dani Derosa into the box with a clear path toward goal. Barba stepped up to the spot and guided a shot inside the post to the goalkeeper's left.
 
After changing its shape at halftime, Cornell found its legs in the second half and pushed hard for an equalizer. Yearby set up Crowell for a drive from 25 yards that forced a diving save from English with 18 minutes remaining, then Crowell teed up sophomore midfielder Jessica Ritchie for a shot from 18 yards that just missed the near post less than two minutes later.
 
"I think our communication picked up a little bit more in the second half," Yearby said. "I think we were more aggressive on the ball and we got a few more shots off than we have in previous games."
 
Making her second straight start and just the third of her collegiate career, sophomore goalkeeper Meghan Kennedy kept the Big Red close with a pair of diving saves on Utush — the first on a one-on-one with 13:15 remaining, and the second on a clear shot about three minutes later. Kennedy finished with a career-high eight saves.
 
Cornell's last gasp came on a Ritchie service into the box with 2:23 left in the half that DeLoach's bravely got a foot to before a big collision between multiple players. The ball bounced toward the far post, but ended up a couple feet wide.
 
The Big Red continues non-league play with a 7 p.m. Thursday contest against Seton Hall at Berman Field.
 
"For us to be effective … we need to pass the ball and share the ball better. I don't think we did that well today," Farmer said. "So for a couple days here, we'll work on passing the ball and we'll add pace to the front half of the field and see if we can get back to controlling games in the front half."