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Cornell University Athletics

Gaby Gonzalez celebrates scoring her first collegiate goal in Cornell's 2-1 victory over Villanova on Sept. 4, 2022
Eldon Lindsay/Cornell Athletics
1
Villanova VIL (0-3-2, 0-0-0)
2
Winner Cornell COR (1-3-0, 0-0-0)
Villanova VIL
(0-3-2, 0-0-0)
1
Final
2
Cornell COR
(1-3-0, 0-0-0)
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Villanova VIL 1 0 1
Cornell COR 2 0 2

Game Recap: Women's Soccer |

Gallman, Gonzalez Aid Women's Soccer to Win Over Villanova

ITHACA, N.Y. – Junior forward Laken Gallman and freshman defender Gaby Gonzalez recorded first-half goals to aid the Cornell Big Red women's soccer team to a 2-1 victory over Villanova at Berman Field on Sunday afternoon.

Gallman has scored a goal in each of the Big Red's last two games, while Gonzalez's goal was the first of her collegiate career.

Senior goalkeeper Nicole Shulman made four saves for the Big Red (1-3-0) to ensure the victory.

"Super happy with the win. Today was more about grit, fight, and heart," Cornell head coach Rob Ferguson said. "It was everything having to look a certain way and kudos to the players. They got it done pretty convincingly."

Villanova's Alexa Wojnovich netted the lone tally for the Wildcats (0-3-2), while goalkeeper Payton Woodward made seven saves for the visitors.

Both teams struggled to find offense in the opening 10 minutes before the teams combined to score three goals over the next nine minutes.

Cornell struck first in the 13th minute as Gallman stole the ball from a Villanova defender, who knocked down a cross from the left flank by Ashley Durik. Gallman made a subtle move to her right to gain separation, sending her right-footed shot into the top half of the goal.

"Laken has hit the ground running. She's been impactful in all games and looks like a threat," Ferguson said. "Her movement is very good and intelligent and helps create for other people."

Sara DeGraw had her shot saved by Woodward in the 18th minute, ultimately setting up a corner kick for the Big Red.

Before the set piece, Gonzalez subbed into the game, subsequently scoring on her first touch of the game. Durik headed a Reagan Pauwels corner kick which was blocked by a Villanova defender, providing Gonzalez an opportunity to shoot at an open net, putting Cornell ahead by two goals.

"It worked out nicely. [Gaby's] our best attacker on set pieces," Ferguson said.

Villanova responded quickly, cutting the Big Red's lead in half just 73 seconds after Gonzalez's goal.

A corner kick by the Wildcats deflected off a couple of players inside the goal area before the ball found Wojnovich's foot, who scored her first goal since April 5, 2021.

Each team registered two shots on target in the second half, but both goalkeepers stood firm in preventing further goals.

Game Notes

• Sunday was the fifth meeting between Cornell and Villanova. With the victory, the Big Red snapped its three-game losing streak to the Wildcats, defeating Villanova for the first time since a 3-1 overtime win on Sept. 21, 1984.

• Cornell has scored in its last five matches, the longest scoring streak with Rob Ferguson on the Big Red coaching staff. It is the longest overall scoring streak since a five-game stretch that spanned the final game of 2018 and the first four games of 2019.

• Gallman has scored in consecutive matches for the second time in her collegiate career. The previous instance came during her freshman year with Tampa, a Division II school, when she netted consecutive game-winning goals against St. Leo (March 13, 2021) and Rollins (March 17, 2021).

• Shulman recorded four saves, matching her career high. It was her fourth career game with four saves and her first since Oct. 12, 2019, against Harvard.

• Freshman Abigail Bishara made her first collegiate start for the Big Red on Sunday, logging 44 minutes of action.

Looking Ahead

Cornell opens a three-game road trip within the Empire State on Wednesday when the Big Red faces UAlbany. Kickoff from Bob Ford Field at Tom & Mary Casey Stadium is slated for 7 p.m. Game action will be broadcast on AmericaEast.TV.
 
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