ITHACA, N.Y. — Senior forward Laken Gallman recorded her first collegiate multi-assist game, factoring on sophomore midfielder Abigail Bishara and junior forward Maddie Leroy's second-half tallies, to aid the Cornell women's soccer team to a 2-2 draw over Lehigh in its season-opening match at a packed Berman Field on Sunday night.
The goals by Bishara and Leroy were the first in both players' collegiate careers.
Sophomore goalkeeper Natalie Medugno made one save in her second collegiate start for the Big Red (0-0-1), who played to a draw in its season opener for the first time since 2015.
Lehigh's Faith Dobosiewicz and Aminah Baruwa were the goal scorers for the Mountain Hawks (1-0-3), who also had a four-save performance by Maggie Ousouljoglou. Ava Schaller assisted on both goals.
Neither team could generate much offense in the opening 45 minutes, as the teams combined for just five shot attempts. Possession was relatively even in the first half. Senior forward Ava Laden, who appeared in her first collegiate match since Nov. 6, 2021, had the lone shot on goal in the frame.
Offense began to click on both sides of the ball coming out of the halftime break. Cornell led in shot attempts, 12-9, with the Big Red having a slight 5-3 edge in shots on goal.
Sophomore defender Gaby Gonzalez had three chances to head in a corner kick in the second half, but all of her opportunities went over the bar or wide of the goal.
Dobosiewicz netted her second marker of the season with her 52nd-minute tally on a feed from Ava Schaller.
Cornell responded with two goals in a span of 2:19 to take a 2-1 lead over the Mountain Hawks.
Gallman ignited the Big Red rally with assists on both Cornell goals. On the first goal, her initial shot attempt was stopped by Ousouljoglou, but the Lehigh keeper could not corral the ball. Leroy pounced on the loose ball, depositing the ball into an open net.
Bishara took advantage of Gallman playing the ball back outside the 18-yard box, lasering a strike from 20 yards out to give the Big Red the lead.
Baruwa leveled the contest in the 85th minute with a goal from a feed off Schaller's boot. The shot attempt was deflected off a Cornell defender and into the net.
Game Notes
• Cornell and Lehigh met for the third time in program history on Sunday. Lehigh continues to lead the series, 2-0-1, despite Sunday's result.
• Sunday night's decision extended Cornell's unbeaten streak on its home field, as the Big Red is unbeaten in its last seven home matches (3-0-4). It is the longest unbeaten streak at home since the program won seven consecutive contests during the 1996 and 1997 seasons.
• It was the highest-scoring draw Cornell has been a part of since also playing to a 2-2 tie on Aug. 29, 2021, against UAlbany. It was the sixth time in program history that Cornell has played to a draw in its season-opening match and just the second time the final score read 2-2, joining a Sept. 5, 2003 match against Stony Brook, also held at Berman Field.
• Gallman's multi-assist night was the first by a Cornell player in nearly nine years when Claire MacManus had two assists in a 5-0 victory over VMI on Sept. 12, 2014.
• Freshman midfielder Ava Jung and freshman defender Kayla Ristianto each made their collegiate debuts on Sunday.
Up Next
Cornell will face a quick turnaround as it will head on the road to face Marist (0-1-1) on Wednesday at Tenney Stadium. First touch between the Big Red and the Red Foxes is slated for 7 p.m. Game action will be broadcast live on ESPN+.
