ITHACA, N.Y. – For the second consecutive match, junior midfielder Reagan Pauwels netted the game-winning goal for the Cornell women's soccer team, as the Big Red (4-7-5, 2-3-2 Ivy) closed out the 2022 season with a 1-0 victory over Dartmouth (8-7-2, 1-5-1 Ivy) at a blustery Berman Field on Saturday afternoon.
Pauwels became the first Cornell player to register game-winning goals in consecutive matches since Paige DeLoach did so in the first two games of the 2016 season against Siena and Loyola (Md.).
Both teams were held scoreless in the opening 45 minutes of action, which had the Big Red out-shooting the Big Green by a 6-2 margin.
Following a Cornell throw-in, Aidan Julia Reineman had her shot attempt blocked by a Dartmouth defender before Pauwels capitalized on the rebound to give the Big Red the lead in the 63rd minute.
"Delighted with the result and many pieces of the performance," Cornell head coach Rob Ferguson said. "We had to show grit and character in tough windy conditions. We felt we should have done more to create chances in the first half to get on the board and we didn't defend well enough as a unit.
"Those things improved in the second half. Despite going into the wind, we controlled much of the half, created good chances, defended as a team, and got the goal. It was great to see Reagan build on her Ivy League Player of the Week award with another game-winning goal."
Following Pauwels' goal, Dartmouth generated five shot attempts with only one being on goal.
Cornell's back line was strong the entire contest, limiting Dartmouth to three shots on goal and 12 shot attempts. The Big Red also held the Ivy League's Golden Boot winner, Allie Winstanley, to just two attempts on the day – both of which missed the goal.
Sophomore Erica Fox stopped three Big Green shots to earn her first solo clean sheet of the season.
"A clean sheet was well deserved for her," Ferguson said. "With a couple of massive saves and the back line, led by Cecily Pokigo, Sydney Waiters, Sara DeGraw, Lily Ellingson, and Mia Gonzalez, was terrific.
"Emily St. John was outstanding in the middle of the park, on both sides of the ball. Ashley Durik and Aidan Julia Reineman rotated leading the line with quality and intensity."
On the other side of the pitch, Charlotte Cyr made 10 saves for Dartmouth.
Game Notes
• Saturday was the 42nd all-time meeting between Cornell and Dartmouth. The Big Red snapped a four-game losing streak to the Big Green on Saturday.
• With the victory, Cornell finishes the season with a 2-3-2 record in Ivy League play, which is the most league wins in a season since 2016 (2-4-1).
• The Big Red concludes the 2022 campaign with a fifth-place finish in the Ivy League table, the program's best finish in league play since tying for fifth in 2015.
