ITHACA, N.Y – Playing its third match in six days, the Cornell men's soccer team gutted out a 4-3 victory over UC Santa Barbara in double overtime on Sunday night at Berman Field. Fifth year Tyler Bagley's corner kick in the 102nd minute found the head of sophomore defender Henry Hylbert for the game-winning goal.
 
Trailing 3-2 in the 78th minute, Cornell (3-1) scored two unanswered goals to secure its third straight victory. The Big Red out-shot UC Santa Barbara 17-8 overall and 7-4 in shots on goal. Bagley led the way with four shots (two on goal) and a pair of goals, pushing his season tally to five goals in four games. With 12 total points on the season, Bagley has already amassed a higher point total than the team-high in 2019 (11, Harry Fuller & JP Scearce).
 
"Tonight was a great win against a great team," head coach John Smith said. "It was a well-played game from both sides. For the fans I'm sure that was an exciting one to watch. We just edged them in opportunities created. I couldn't be prouder of the entire team for the effort they played with."
 
Bagley wasted no time getting Cornell on the scoreboard first when he scored the games first goal in the 15th minute. Dribbling past his defender, Bagley once again found the upper 90 from just outside the top of the 18-yard box.
 
The Gauchos were quick to even the score however, scoring an equalizer in the 20th minute. After collecting a through ball from Nemo Phillipp, Salvador Aguilar chipped a shot over the out-stretched arms of junior goalkeeper Brady McSwain for the goal. UC Santa Barbara took a 2-1 advantage out of the halftime break when precision passing led to a goal for Lucas Gonzalez. Gonzalez collected a pass from Phillipp and placed the ball towards open far side of the net.
 
Cornell evened the score at two apiece in the 20th minute when a foul in the box provided an opportunity for Bagley to collect his second goal of the evening. UC Santa Barbara's last line of defense gave Bagley a shove just outside the 6-yard box to set up the penalty chance. It's Bagley's second two-goal game of the season as he increased his goal total to five.
 
As rain started to fall on Berman Field, the Gauchos regained the lead in the 78th minute. Working on the counter attack, Finn Ballard McBride collected a long pass from Rene Pacheco and broke away from his Big Red defender.
 
A high cleat to the chest area of freshman Alioune Ka in the 84th minute set Cornell up for its second penalty shot chance of the match. Fifth year Harry Fuller was given the penalty opportunity for the Big Red and didn't disappoint, scoring his second goal of the season.
 
Sunday night's match needed more than the full 90 minutes to be decided with the match heading to overtime tied at 3-3. UC Santa Barbara controlled the action in the first overtime period, firing off three shots and controlling a majority of the possession. It was Cornell that dominated the second overtime period however, taking three shots.
 
The Big Red sent the Gauchos back to the West Coast in the 102nd minute when sophomore defender Henry Hylbert used his head to score the first goal of his career. Hylbert is one of three newcomers to score for Cornell this week.
 
Up Next: Cornell hits the road to face Fairleigh Dickinson in its only match next week. The Big Red will meet the Knights on Saturday, Sept. 18 at 5 p.m. in Madison, N.J.
 
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: Nick Allen
D: Henry Hylbert
D: Mateo Rodriguez
D: Kisa Kiingi
M: Harry Fuller
M: Wilson Eisner
M: Jonah Kagen
M: Tyler Bagley
F: Charles Touche
F: Emeka Eneli