ITHACA, N.Y. — For the first time in 14 years, the Cornell women's soccer team is 4-0. Senior Kaili Gregory scored in the 74th minute, and the Big Red back line buckled down to post its third consecutive clean sheet in a 1-0 victory over St. Bonaventure on Sunday afternoon at Berman Field.
 
In a matchup of upstart programs that have enjoyed bounce back seasons after a tough go in 2018, neither team generated much in the way of quality scoring chances from close range. Goalkeepers made just a combined four saves, with all of those efforts coming from at least 25 yards out.
 
St. Bonaventure (3-3) enjoyed a slight edge in possession (53%) on the day, but the bulk of that possession came in the Bonnies' defensive half (63%). The opposite was true for Cornell (4-0), which had 56% of its possession in St. Bonaventure's half. That included a shot from sophomore forward Jadyn Matthews off freshman midfielder Ashley Durik's feed in the 12th minute, but it whistled high and wide.
 
Meanwhile, the Big Red's back line stood tall when called upon. Freshman Sydney Waiters and senior Abby Adams continued their staunch play up the middle, and freshman Emily St. John made her first collegiate start at right back. Gregory came on as a reserve in the 33rd minute at left back, though her biggest contribution came at the other end of the field.
 
But first, Cornell had to survive a couple of St. Bonaventure chances in the second half. A failed punch on a corner kick in the 61st minute proved harmless after the ball hit a foot and rolled wide of the far post. Three minutes later, an unconvincing punch of a cross from the right flank led to an open volleyball attempt from Christine Napoli at about 12 yards, but the ball soared over the crossbar.
 
The Big Red then got its break through after a corner kick. St. John served the ball from the left side to about 12 yards out from the far post, where Gregory ran onto it and powered a header into the net. It was her first goal of the season and fourth of her collegiate career. The assist was St. John's first collegiate point.
 
Sophomore Miranda Iannone made two saves in just her second collegiate start, while freshman Nicole Shulman earned the victory by coming on for the final 18:10.
 
Cornell's 4-0 start is its first since 2005, when it would go on to win its first six games. The three consecutive shutouts is also a first since 2015, when the Big Red made a memorable run of nine straight clean sheets to start the season.
 
The Big Red is back in action at 1 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 15, when it travels to the Capital District to take on defending America East champion Albany at Bob Ford Field.