Skip To Main Content

Cornell University Athletics

Sydney Malaga closely defends a Penn player on Oct. 1, 2022
Eldon Lindsay/Cornell Athletics
1
Cornell Big Red CRNL (2-6-4, 0-2-1)
5
Winner Harvard Crimson HARV (8-1-2, 2-0-1)
Cornell Big Red CRNL
(2-6-4, 0-2-1)
1
Final
5
Harvard Crimson HARV
(8-1-2, 2-0-1)
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Cornell Big Red CRNL 0 1 1
Harvard Crimson HARV 3 2 5

Game Recap: Women's Soccer |

Offense Leads No. 25 Harvard to Victory Over Women's Soccer

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Harvard scored three first-half goals, aiding the No. 25-ranked Crimson to a 5-1 victory over Cornell in women's soccer action at Jordan Field on Saturday afternoon.

Audrey Francois factored in Harvard's final three goals, which included netting the Crimson's last two markers. Hannah Bebar, Hollyn Torres, and Sophie Hirst netted Harvard's first-half goals. Hannah Gardner recorded five saves in the victory for the Crimson (8-1-2, 2-0-1 Ivy).

Sophomore Sydney Malaga thwarted the Crimson's shutout, heading in her first collegiate goal inside the penalty area during the 89th minute. Erica Fox made four saves in goal for the Big Red (2-6-4, 0-2-1 Ivy). Three of Fox's saves came in the second half.

"Harvard took what we gave them and punished us," head coach Rob Ferguson said. "Our first-half performance was way off, not good enough from an intensity, organization, and execution standpoint. We gave them way too much respect, couple that with mistakes in our defensive third, and a team like Harvard won't give you a second chance.

"The second half was much better. We pressed, used the ball better, and competed how we needed to compete for 90 minutes. This is the first time we have let ourselves down from a performance perspective and we need to bounce back with character and focus this week."

Bebar opened the scoring in the 11th minute, lasering a pass from Hannah Griffin past Fox to the right side of the net.

Harvard scored its final two goals of the first half over four minutes. Torres increased the Crimson's lead in the 32nd minute after intercepting a Cornell pass in the middle third. After dribbling down the left side of the pitch, Torres sent a dribbling shot toward the far post.

Hirst added to the Crimson's lead with a 36th-minute tally, as Francois and Megan Mackey were credited with assists on the goal.

Francois wasted no time adding to Harvard's lead, scoring in the 47th minute. Harvard sent a through pass that Francois gently pushed to her left to evade Fox and deposited the ball into an empty net.

Three minutes later, Harvard added to its lead as Francois tried to play a cross from the left flank but deflected off a Cornell defender into the goal.

Malaga's late goal was set up by senior Isabella DeLew, who took a free kick for Cornell from the right side of the middle third. Harvard attempted to clear the ball from the 18-yard box with a header, but Malaga headed in the Big Red's lone tally of the match past Garnder.

Game Notes

• Saturday was the 40th meeting between the Big Red and Crimson. Harvard improved to 28-3-9 all-time over Cornell and is now 15-1-4 over its last 20 matches against its Ivy League foe.

• Malaga's goal and DeLew's assist marked the first collegiate point for both players.

Looking Ahead

• Cornell will return to Berman Field next Saturday (Oct. 15) when the Big Red hosts Yale in the program's annual Senior Day contest. First touch is scheduled for 1 p.m., with game action broadcast on ESPN+.
 
Print Friendly Version