BETHLEHEM, Pa. –
Charles Touche's 92nd minute goal propelled the Cornell men's soccer team past Lehigh, 3-2, Tuesday evening at the Ulrich Sports Complex. The win advanced the Big Red to 6-2 on the season, while the Mountain Hawks fell to 4-4-1.
The goal was set up by
Emeka Eneli, who perfectly placed the ball in the open pocket between Lehigh goalkeeper Will Smith and two converging Mountain Hawk defenders. Touche took a swing in stride with his right foot and snuck the ball past the charging Smith.
"It isn't easy to win on the road," head coach
John Smith said. "So to get the winner in overtime and tally our fifth road win of the season it's a testament to what these guys are made of."
In the opening seconds of overtime, the Mountain Hawks found themselves with a prime opportunity. Lehigh's leading goal-scorer Josh Luchini had the ball uncontested 12 yards from the net. Luchini sent a shot in the direction of the goal, but
Tyler Bagley cleared the ball away.
Cornell opened up the scoring in the 28th minute off a beautiful strike on the free kick from
Charlie Ferguson just outside the 18-yard box. The freshman from Eastbourne, United Kingdom, sent the ball to let of the wall and past the diving Smith in net to score the first goal of his collegiate career.
The attempt was set up after Eneli was fouled trying to make a play on the ball just outside of the box.
The Big Red got on the board again in the 53rd minute on a
Vardhin Manoj goal.
Harry Fuller sent in a corner kick to the middle of the box where
Ilan Piker headed the ball to Manoj, who was planted inside the six-yard box. With his back facing the net when the ball was sent to him, Manoj twisted to his left and roundhouse-kicked it through Lehigh goalkeeper Will Smith's legs.
Cornell watched its lead vanish quickly as Lehigh struck twice in the matter of 9:19 to even the score at two.
"Credit to Lehigh for coming back," Smith said. "They have some very dangerous players and they deserved to tie the game up."
Ryan Shellow, who now owns a record of 6-2 in net this season, made several key saves throughout the course of the game. The junior goalkeeper finished the game with four denials.
The Big Red opens up Ivy League play against Penn at 1 p.m. Saturday at Berman Field.
