ITHACA, N.Y. — Sydney Allen picked an opportune time to record her first collegiate goal as the sophomore forward headed in a cross from the right side of the penalty area by classmate Alanna Colbert to guide Cornell to a 2-1 victory over its Central New York rival Syracuse on a picturesque Sunday afternoon on Berman Field.

The victory for Cornell, which was its second consecutive triumph over the Orange, extended the Big Red's unbeaten streak in non-conference matches to 14, establishing a program record that bested the previous record of 13 set initially on two instances across the 2001-03 (8-0-5) and 2014-16 (10-0-3) seasons.

Joining Allen in the scoring column was senior forward Laken Gallman, who opened the scoring with a 22nd-minute tally. Junior goalkeeper Natalie Medugno also factored in the decision for Cornell, making a season-high five saves in between the pipes.

Julia Dening potted the lone tally for the Orange (4-1-1), as its five-match unbeaten streak to open the season was halted. Shea Vanderbosch also made five saves in goal for the visitors.

"Delighted with the result, proud of the team," stated Cornell women's soccer head coach Rob Ferguson. "I think it's the best, possibly most, complete performance I've seen the team put in in my time here. I thought we did a better job sticking to what we wanted to do. We did a better job of not being flustered when they came out and changed in the second half, which they certainly did in how they set up. Really complete performance and proud of the team."

Throughout the midfield, Cornell made crisp passes to create separation and generate their scoring chances in the opening 45 minutes of play.

"It was flowing. We talk a lot about rhythm and tempo," Ferguson said. "Keep the ball zipping and moving, interchanging positions, rotating, be hard to pick up and defend. That's something that's been coming along for a few years now. It's not new this preseason. Again, that's the best collective showing against a good athletic team who were unbeaten until today."

Cornell's first goal occurred following a corner kick taken by senior defender Lily Ellingson. Her kick toward the far post was headed on goal by junior defender Gaby Gonzalez. Vanderbosch made a leaping save, allowing Gallman to capitalize on the loose rebound, having her shot hit the crossbar and deflect into the goal's netting.

"Gaby just crushed them on set pieces all day long," Ferguson said of Gonzalez's dominance on set pieces. "Gaby probably won every single corner that came in, and we had a bunch. She's probably disappointed that she didn't put it in the top corner, but it came back off the bar and Laken got it."

Syracuse leveled the match with a 40th-minute marker off the boot of Dening as she chipped the ball past a Cornell defender following a throw-in on the edge of the Orange's attacking third.

Two minutes later, Cornell regained the lead as Allen headed in Colbert's cross from the right side of the penalty area for her first collegiate goal and put Cornell back in the lead.

Despite Cornell owning an 11-8 edge in shot attempts in the second half, Syracuse held a 4-2 edge in shots on goal as Medugno preserved the Big Red's lead over the final 45 minutes,  making some crucial stops.

MATCH NOTES
• Sunday marked the 15th all-time meeting between Cornell and Syracuse. The Big Red posted its second consecutive victory over the Orange, as the series continues to favor Syracuse's way, 10-2-3.

• Cornell's win increased its unbeaten streak in non-conference matches to 14 matches (6-0-8), marking the program's longest string of non-Ivy League matches without a loss.

LONGEST NON-CONFERENCE UNBEATEN STREAKS
Cornell Program History
• 14 matches (2022-Present) — 6-0-8 (.692)
• 13 matches (2001-03) — 8-0-5 (.808)
• 13 matches (2014-16) — 10-0-3 (.885)
• 9 matches (1985-86) — 7-0-2 (.889)

• Cornell is unbeaten in its first three matches for a second consecutive year and the 12th overall time in the program's 42 seasons of competition (1986, 1990, 1991, 1992, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2014, 2015, 2019, 2023).

INSTANCES OF GOING UNBEATEN OVER FIRST THREE MATCHES
Cornell Program History
• 3-0-0 (1986, 1990, 1991, 1992, 2002, 2005, 2014, 2019)
• 2-0-0 (2015, 2023)
• 1-0-2 (2004, 2024)

• Gallman's first-half goal extended Cornell's streak of matches with a goal to nine, its longest streak since compiling goals in 10 successive matches between Oct. 29, 2022, and Sept. 27, 2023. The nine consecutive matches with a goal are tied for the fifth-longest streak in program history. Over its last 20 contests, the Big Red has scored in 19 contests (1.44 goals per match).

LONGEST STREAK OF MATCHES WITH A GOAL
Cornell Program History
1. 13 matches (Sept. 10, 2003 - Nov. 1, 2003) — 28 goals (2.15 goals per match)
T2. 10 matches (Sept. 17, 1988 - Oct. 22, 1988) — 24 goals (2.40 goals per match)
T2. 10 matches (Sept. 24, 2000 - Oct. 24, 2000) — 18 goals (1.80 goals per match)
T2. 10 matches (Oct. 29, 2022 - Sept. 27, 2023) — 15 goals (1.50 goals per match)
T5. 9 matches (Nov. 4, 1992 - Oct. 12, 1993) — 22 goals (2.44 goals per match)
T5. 9 matches (Oct. 13, 1996 - Sept. 13, 1997) — 24 goals (2.67 goals per match)
T5. 9 matches (Oct. 4, 2023 - Present) — 13 goals (1.44 goals per match)

• Cornell also increased its goal-scoring streak in matches at Berman Field to 12 on Sunday, matching the program record set across a 12-match span from Sept. 13, 2013, and Oct. 3, 2014.

LONGEST STREAK OF HOME MATCHES WITH A GOAL
Cornell Program History
T1. 12 matches (Sept. 13, 2013 — Oct. 3, 2014) — 32 goals (2.67 goals per match)
T1. 12 matches (Oct. 29, 2022 - Present) — 19 goals (1.58 goals per match)
3. 10 matches (Oct. 16, 1985 - Sept. 30, 1987) — 24 goals (2.40 goals per match)
4. 9 matches (Sept. 22, 1996 - Oct. 14, 1997) — 20 goals (2.22 goals per match)
5. 8 matches (Sept. 23, 2011 - Oct. 2, 2012) — 13 goals (1.63 goals per match)

• The one-goal victory in favor of the Big Red marked the fifth time in the last seven meetings between the Empire State foes that a contest has been decided by one goal or less.

• Ellingson's assist on Gallman's opening-tally was her first point since assisting on Peyton Nichols' goal against Marist on Aug. 28, 2022.

• Gonzalez's assist, also on Gallman's goal, was the first of her collegiate career. It was also her first point since scoring the game-winning goal against Villanova on Sept. 4, 2022.

• Cornell's nine corner kicks on Sunday were its most in a game since also having nine corners against UAlbany last season on Oct. 17.

NEXT UP
Cornell will conclude its three-match homestand on Thursday when it welcomes another ACC foe, Boston College (5-1-0), to Berman Field. First touch between the Big Red and Eagles is scheduled for 6 p.m. Game action will be broadcast on ESPN+.

Boston College and Cornell will be meeting for the first time since playing to a 2-2 double-overtime draw at the Harvard Invitational in Cambridge, Mass., on Oct. 2, 1994. Cornell will be seeking its first victory over Boston College since logging a 1-0 overtime victory on Oct. 8, 1989, at Robison Alumni Field. Jennifer Smith potted the game-winning marker for Cornell 11:48 into overtime, aiding Melissa Gambrell to her 10-save clean sheet.

Five of the six all-time contests between the two programs have been decided by one goal or less.