Box Score (PDF)

ITHACA, N.Y. — Senior forward Paige DeLoach scored her 10th collegiate goal, but the women's soccer team couldn't rally from an early deficit in dropping a 3-1 contest against Eastern Washington on Sunday at Berman Field.
 
Eastern Washington (3-3) scored twice in the opening five minutes of the game to put Cornell (0-2) on its heels in its home opener. Chloe Williams got the Eagles on the board on an open shot from about 12 yards just 2:11 into the game, then a corner kick served from the right side by Aimie Inthoulay took a couple deflections in the box and resulted in an own goal.
 
The Big Red started to gain some traction thereafter and threatened to strike in the 17th minute. DeLoach made a strong run from midfield through a string of three Eastern Washington defenders, but her left-footed shot from 15 yards clattered off the goalkeeper's legs. The Eagles then added to their cushion when Allison Raniere collected a loose ball 20 yards out from the right post and made use of space to loft a shot over the goalkeeper and under the crossbar in the 32nd minute.

"We all agreed we had something to prove in the second half, and I just challenged them to lift their performance and play like the score was 0-0," head coach Dwight Hornibrook said. "We made a very positive impression in the second half and got better penetration into Eastern Washington's end and showed the capability that we have when everyone is playing at the right speed and the level that's needed technically."
 
Cornell scored its first goal of the season in the 70th minute. Freshman Maddie Hoitink took a goal kick that was won in the midfield by classmate Shelby Wray. Senior Katerina Weikert collected the ball and split a pair of defenders to make space in the middle third, then sent a perfectly timed aerial ball up the middle to a sprinting DeLoach — just ahead of an offsides trap. As the goalkeeper came out, DeLoach calmly slid a shot inside the right post.
 
The Big Red used the momentum to threaten a few more times — most notably with 16 minutes to play. First, junior Grace Keller took a corner kick from the right side that forced an alert save from the Eagles' goalkeeper. Just 15 seconds later, Weikert served a ball from the right side that was sent toward goal by Wray — but the ball caromed off the near post and into the arms of the sprawling keeper.

"Bottom line, the challenge at halftime was met," Hornibrook said. "We did much better and looked more convincing in every aspect of the game. We got good performances off the bench and created a positive outcome, even though the score wasn't in our favor. We have been taught some important lessons that only playing good opposition can yield. We will make the adjustments and get better."
 
Cornell continues non-league play next weekend, travelling to Buffalo for its first game on turf at 7 p.m. Friday before returning to Berman Field to oppose Binghamton at noon Sunday, Sept. 10.