Box Score (PDF)
ITHACA, N.Y. — The men's soccer team fought until the very end but dropped a close 2-1 contest against Lehigh (2-2) on Friday night at Berman Field. Cornell (0-2-1) kept peppering the net with some great looks in the second half that unfortunately did not find its way across the goal line.
"We created some good chances," said head coach John Smith. "There were moments where I thought as a group we defended really well and moments where we didn't and then moments where we attacked really well and should have scored a couple of more goals, but also moments where we could have attacked better. I think that's part of what tends to happen when you've got such a new bunch."
"At any given time, I think there were six new guys on the field so you're finding a little bit about each other during that process. We're finding out each and every game what we're good at and what we need to improve upon."
Cornell ended the first half with a bang, getting on the board first in the 44th minute as freshman Harry Fuller scored his first-career goal after Walter Prince sent over a perfect lob from the opposite touch line.
However, Lehigh came out firing in the second half and equalized in the 51st minute after a shot by Doyle Tuvesson rebounded off of goalkeeper Ryan Shellow and Mark Forrest was in the perfect position to knock in the ball to make it 1-1.
Bratislav Petkovic earned the game-winning goal for the Mountain Hawks 16 minutes later as Forrest sent a cross in the box to Petkovic who then rocketed the ball into the left side of the net from inside the 18-yard box.
"You don't want guys to feel down about a performance like that," Smith said. "There were a number of great things within the game and things that weren't so great that we need to improve upon and you've got to learn. You learn from your mistakes. During these moments it's an opportunity to grow and to improve."
The game was dominated by offensive plays on both sides of the field with Lehigh coming away with 21 shots while Cornell recorded 15.
Both Shellow and Lehigh keeper Will Smith were in the net for the entire duration of the game and logged thee saves apiece.
The Big Red will be back in action against Lafayette at 3 p.m. on Sept. 10 at Berman Field.
