NEW HAVEN, Conn. - In a defensive battle that remained scoreless through the first 84 minutes of the match, the No. 19-ranked Cornell men's soccer team was defeated by Yale on Saturday by a 1-0 tally. The Big Red fired off 20 shots in total with seven being placed on goal, but a stand-out performance by Yale goalkeeper Elian Haddock kept Cornell scoreless for the first time this season.
Cornell (8-2-1, 2-1-0 Ivy) out-shot Yale 20-5 overall and 7-2 in shots on goal, but the Bulldogs capitalized when it mattered most late. Fifth-year midfielder Tyler Bagley led the team in shots with four and matched freshman midfielder Wilson Eisner for the team lead in shots on goal at two apiece. Cornell played well defensively throughout the match, limiting Yale's time of possession and surrendering its fewest shots on goal of the season.
"It's a cruel sport sometimes," head coach John Smith said. "I think it was clear tonight who the better team was. I thought we were dominant in most every facet of the game, but their keeper made some great saves. When you create so many chances and don't put them away, they are always in it with a chance. Credit to their striker for connecting on a great finish. We will dust ourselves down, and get back after it at Binghamton on Tuesday. There's still everything to play for."
A scoreless first half was not due to a lack of action. The Big Red out-shot Yale 9-2 in the first half, which included four shots on goal. Cornell had five opportunities off corner kicks and had several free kick chances from outside the 18-yard box.
Fifth-year defender Jonah Kagen's shot in the 28th minute was the Big Red's best scoring chance of the first half. A save by Yale goalkeeper Elian Haddock stopped Cornell's initial chance off the corner kick, but with Haddock off his line, Kagen found an opportunity to fire a shot on goal. Yale defender Jeremy Haddock was hanging out at the near post however, making a defensive save on Kagen's shot.
Late in the first half it appeared Yale had been called for a handball in the box, but after the officials conferred it resulted in a free kick just outside of the box for Eisner.
Yale nearly took a 1-0 lead earlier in the match when a breakaway opportunity by Kahveh Zahiroleslam resulted in a low rolling shot that ended up wide of the far post.
Cornell found several strong chances in front of the goal during the second half, but it was sophomore forward Matthew Goncalves' 69th minute opportunity in front of the keeper its sure to want another crack at. Goncalves' shot was saved by Haddock and ricocheted off the crossbar.
With the intensity rising late in the match fifth-year midfielder Harry Fuller had a breakaway of his own stopped icy Haddock n the 81st minute. Freshman forward Danny Lokko, appearing in just his second match of the season after returning from injury, was nearly in position for the rebound opportunity.
Yale finally broke through the Big Red defense late when a ball sent into the box by TJ Presthus bounced off the chest of Paolo Carroll and found the boot of Zahiroleslam. Zahiroleslam fired a shot off the volley and found the back of the net.
Cornell pressed for an equalizer over the final six minutes of the match, taking five shots in the final five minutes of the contest. The Big Red had a number of shots blocked by Bulldog defenders, but it was a Bagley free kick in the 87th minute that posed the biggest threat. Bagley has found the upper netting multiple times this season on free kicks, but once again Haddock was there for the save.
Up Next: Cornell remains on the road for a match against Binghamton on Tuesday, Oct. 19. The Bearcats fell to 7-5-1 on the season following a 2-1 loss to Hartford on Saturday.
Assistant director of athletic communications Austin Overmann is in his 3rd year as his office's primary contact for the team. He can be reached at ao437@cornell.edu.
Starting XI:
GK: Brady McSwain
D: Tate Keir
D: Henry Hylbert
D: Kisa Kiingi
D: Jonah Kagen
M: Tyler Bagley
M: Harry Fuller
M: Lalo Serrano
M: Wilson Eisner
F: Emeka Eneli
F: Charles Touche
