Box Score (PDF)
ITHACA, N.Y. — Excitement was in the air on Sunday as the men's soccer team won its first game of the season against Lafayette, 3-1, at Berman Field.
"I thought we did really well," said head coach John Smith. "First half especially when we scored three goals and they were good goals. We could have actually closed the game in the first half by getting one or two more. You always know when you go into halftime two or three nil that the game isn't over yet."
Cornell (1-2-1) dominated Lafayette (0-5-0) offensively in the first half, scoring all three of its goals in the first 30 minutes of action while also recording nine of its 11 total shots.
George Pedlow started things off in the 11th minute, knocking in the ball from inside the goal box despite there being a defender and the Leopards' goalkeeper in his way. Harry Fuller earned the assist after he sent in a perfectly-timed cross from just outside the 18-yard box.
Freshman Caleb McAuslan earned the first goal of his career at Cornell to put the Big Red up, 2-0, in the 27th minute following a throw-in by Tyler Bagley that found Vardhin Manoj who ultimately tapped it to McAuslan to make the score.
Less than three minutes later, freshman Evan Austin also scored his first-collegiate goal after Eric Nuss sent in a cross that touched Austin's foot and found its way across the goal line.
The Leopards would eventually find their way onto the scoreboard after halftime following a goal from Evan Vare via a free kick in the 55th minute, but Cornell's defense overall was rock solid and stifled any other offensive momentum Lafayette had.
"The guys in front of me today did a fantastic job," said goalkeeper Ryan Shellow. "They're tight and communicating constantly, tracking runners and doing a fantastic job. Ryan (Bayne), Richie (Hrncir), Eric (Nuss), Evan (Austin), all those guys did a great job today limiting their chances to very few and when they are tight like that and doing their job, it makes my job a lot easier."
Shellow tallied two saves in the team's win while the Leopards' Brian Erlich made three.
"We've definitely upped a level, technically, of our players," said Pedlow. "Defensively, we're playing with much more freedom and much more confidence. It's really exciting."
The Big Red will be back in action against Canisius at 7 p.m. on Sept. 16 at Berman Field.
