NEW HAVEN, Conn. — Senior forward Mia Gonzalez scored a third-minute goal for Cornell (3-3-6, 0-3-2 Ivy) and the Big Red led for the next 86:46 before Yale's Tanner Cahalan netted the game-tying goal with 42 seconds left in regulation, leading to both teams playing to a 1-1 draw at Reese Stadium on Saturday evening.

Gonzalez's goal at the 2:52 mark was the quickest goal by the Big Red this season, besting the previous season-high, also accomplished by Gonzalez, against Villanova on Sept. 17 (4:44). It was the fastest game-opening goal by the Big Red since Evanthia Spyredes at 2:29 of a match on Sept. 18, 2019, against Binghamton.

Junior goalkeeper Erica Fox stopped a game-high four shots, increasing her save total in Ivy League contests to 22. Yale's Kyla Holmes stopped a trio of Cornell shots in her second Ivy League start.

"Proud and disappointed is equal measure today," Cornell women's soccer head coach Rob Ferguson said. "It was a heartbreaker. I feel for the team, they dominated for large parts of the game. Completely bossed it in the first half, but needed to capitalize with another goal. We put a lot in to the game from a heart and intensity standpoint, and we executed our game plan very well. We feel we deserved to win it, plain and simple, and this is a tough place to come and get a result."

The scoring opened when Gonzalez received a through ball from fellow senior Laken Gallman just past the midfield stripe. Gonzalez gained control of the ball about 25 yards out from the goal and evaded Holmes, who came out of the crease to get the ball and sent a dribbling right-footed shot into the far left corner of the goal.

Following the goal, Cornell recorded eight of the match's first nine shot attempts, spanning the opening 20 minutes.

Cornell's back line of seniors Jackie Lasseter and Kendall Patten and juniors Lily Ellingson and Cecily Pokigo held Yale to just nine shot attempts, four of which were on target, while the Big Red had the lead.

Yale leveled the contest when an in-swinging cross from deep in the right flank of the attack midfield deflected off the head of a Cornell defender, allowing Cahalan to send a right-footed shot past Fox.

In the final seconds, Cornell had one last chance at netting a game-winning marker as the Big Red had a free kick on the right corner of the 18-yard box from about 30 yards from the net, but the set piece sailed over the crossbar. 

"The second half was more even, but we still controlled it well for the most part. To concede in that late fashion is tough. It's also what high-level competition is about and we can all learn, grow, and be stronger for it, on and off the field."

MATCH NOTES
• Cornell and Yale met for the 41st time on Saturday, a series which continues to favor the Bulldogs, 21-17-3. Each of the last 14 matches between the Big Red and Bulldogs has been decided by one goal or less.

• The Big Red is now unbeaten over its last 11 matches when scoring the game's first goal under head coach Rob Ferguson.

• Along with its unbeaten streak when scoring first, the Big Red has not lost each of its last nine contests when outshooting its opponent. Cornell ended up holding an 11-9 advantage in shot attempts.

UP NEXT
Cornell returns to Berman Field for its final two regular-season home matches, beginning with its final non-conference match when it hosts UAlbany on Tuesday. First touch between the Big Red and Great Danes is scheduled for 5 p.m. Match action will be broadcast on ESPN+.