Box Score (PDF)

ITHACA, N.Y. — Men's soccer managed to limit prolific-scoring Canisius's scoring opportunities, but it was ultimately a successful penalty kick in the second half that lifted the Griffins (5-1) over Cornell (1-3-1), 2-1.

"I thought we had a brilliant first half," said head coach John Smith. "We were the better team in the first half. We pinged the ball around real well and scored a wonderful goal and created more chances. We could have capitalized on some of our possessions and scored another goal."

Canisius's Evan Walsh laid claim to the game-winning penalty goal in the 55th minute as he went top shelf and tucked the ball away in the upper right-hand corner of the net. However, it was Cornell that got on the board first as a freshman earned their first-career goal donning the Carnellian Red and White. 

After coming close on multiple occasions this season, it was Tommy Hansan who finally earned his first-collegiate goal in the fourth minute while Vardhin Manoj recorded his second assist of the season.

Manoj hit Hansan in stride as he approached the top of the 18-yard box and Canisius's goalkeeper, Marco Trivellato, stood no chance against Hansan's rocket that sailed in towards the right side of the net. 

Canisius would come back to level things up, however, in the 21st minute after Troy Brady shot the ball into the right corner of the goal as he entered the box.

"I'm obviously disappointed that we let them get back into it with a goal but we rebounded from that within the half and I thought we finished off the half real well," Smith said. "The end part of the game, we were chasing and doing well. We had more possession, creating more but we just couldn't finish. Some great crosses but we couldn't get on the end of it."

Despite some good looks at the goal from Cornell throughout the match, the penalty kick conversion in the second half was all the Griffins would need to seal the victory.

Statistically, the teams were on an even playing field with the Big Red recording 10 shots while Canisius had nine. Both squads took four corner kicks and goalkeepers Ryan Shellow and Trivellato each made three saves for their respective teams. 

One of the highlights for Cornell was its back line, who limited the Griffins to just two goals after they were previously averaging 3.75 goals per game in its last four contests.

"All in all, particularly the back line, I thought we did a really solid job defensively of closing down and defending two strikers that work hard and got decent pace and are a little bit of a handful," said Smith. 

The Big Red will hit the road this week as they take on No. 7 Syracuse at 7 p.m. on Sept. 19 at the SU Soccer Stadium.