EASTON, Pa. — Freshman defender Raya Leikin factored on both first-half goals, and four players registered their first collegiate points as the Cornell women's soccer team defeated Lafayette 4-0 Tuesday evening at Gummeson Grounds.

Leikin opened the scoring in the 37th minute and was quickly followed by a marker from junior forward Sydney Allen in the 44th minute. Senior forward Tanum Nelson (75th minute) and senior defender Izzy Scott (86th minute) tallied second-half markers for the Big Red (4-4-4).

Both Leikin's and Scott's first collegiate points came by way of goals, while freshman defender Jessica Alessi and sophomore midfielder Lauren DiPierri notched their first career points, assisting on Leikin's and Nelson's respective goals.

Senior goalkeeper Natalie Medugno and junior goalkeeper Naomi Glassberg combined for a two-save shutout for the Big Red, with each keeper making one save. Medugno earned the victory, improving to 2-1-0 on the season.

Lafayette's Maddie Miniutti made five saves for the Leopards (3-5-5), who were held to just four shot attempts.

"The team played really well," said Cornell head coach Rob Ferguson. "They really controlled both sides of the ball in the first half. I thought we had a good balance of looking to possess, but also be threatening. We thought there were opportunities to switch the field and stretch them more than we did, and we improved that in the second half. At the back, we were well organized, disciplined, and deserved the clean sheet."

Medugno was tested early in the contest, getting a hand on a shot by Katrina Santelli in the second minute. After Cornell allowed the first two shot attempts, the Big Red generated the subsequent 11 shot attempts, which included the first two goals.

Leikin opened the scoring in the 37th minute, capitalizing on a feed by Alessi, who chipped the ball to Leikin. Her shot from outside the penalty area deflected off Miniutti's hand at the left post, but the Leopards keeper was unable to corral it.



Cornell doubled its lead late in the first half as Allen headed a corner kick taken by Leikin past Miniutti.



"We felt the goal would come," Ferguson said. "Raya's positive mindset and touch really set her up well to finish and get the ball rolling. She then put in a superb delivery for Sydney to double the lead."

After being held scoreless for over 30 minutes, the Big Red increased its lead to three in the 75th minute when Nelson one-touched a cross from DiPierri from the left flank on the edge of the 6-yard box. Eleven minutes later, Scott added another insurance goal, heading an in-swinging corner kick taken by sophomore defender Ella Koschineg at the far post.





"Lafayette came out with more intent in the second half, as we anticipated," Ferguson said. "It took us a little while to get to grips with the game again, but I thought we looked good and controlled most of the half once we matched their intensity.

"Lauren was a threat and it was a great run, dribble, and pass to Tanum, who was composed in front of the goal. It was great for Izzy to get on the scoresheet and was a superb header from Ella's service."

MATCH NOTES
• Tuesday marked the 10th all-time meeting between the Big Red and Leopards. Cornell extended its winning streak against Lafayette to 10 matches, improving to 10-0-0 all-time against the Leopards. The 10-match win streak is tied for the program record for the longest winning streak against a single opponent, matching a 10-match run against Columbia from Nov. 1, 1986, to Oct. 7, 1995.

LONGEST WIN STREAKS VS. ONE OPPONENT
Cornell Program History
• 10 matches, Columbia (Nov. 1, 1986 – Oct. 7, 1995)
• 10 matches, Lafayette (Nov. 4, 1998 - Present)
• 7 matches, Colgate (Oct. 1, 1986 – Sept. 20, 1992)
• 7 matches, Yale (Oct. 22, 1983 – Sept. 30, 1989)
• 6 matches, Penn (Nov. 6, 1991 – Nov. 7, 1996)
• 6 matches, Princeton (Sept. 15, 1990 – Sept. 23, 1995)
• 6 matches, St. Bonaventure (Sept. 10, 1993 – Oct. 6, 1999)
• 5 matches, Adelphi (Oct. 1, 1983 - Present)
• 5 matches, Bucknell (Oct. 18, 1992 – Sept. 16, 1998)

• Combined with its 1-0 victory at Yale on Sept. 27, Cornell has won each of its last two road matches, marking the first time the team has posted victories in consecutive road contests since 1-0 wins at Siena on Aug. 28, 2016, and at Loyola (Md.) on Sept. 2, 2016.

• Cornell's four goals were its highest scoring output since a 4-0 victory over UAlbany on Oct. 17, 2023, at Berman Field. It was the most goals scored in a road match since defeating Robert Morris 4-0 on Sept. 4, 2005.

• The Big Red improved to 4-1-0 this year when scoring the first goal and has a 16-3-6 record (.760) under Ferguson when opening the scoring.

• Leikin became the first Cornell player to have at least three points in a match since Laken Gallman had a two-goal performance against UAlbany on Oct. 17, 2023.

• After playing the opening 45 minutes, Medugno increased her career clean sheet total to seven, matching Kate Alexander (1992-93) for eighth all-time in program history.

MOST CAREER CLEAN SHEETS
Cornell Program History
1. 22, Melissa Gambrell (1986-89)
2. 21.5, Kelsey Tierney (2013-16)
3. 20, Sue DeLong (1990-91, 1993-94)
4. 16, Sherrie Chocola (1984-86)
5. 13, Katie Thomas (2001-04)
6. 10, Marybeth Bell (1995-96)
7. 9, Kate Thompson (1983-84)
T8. 7, Kate Alexander (1992-93)
T8. 7, Natalie Medugno (2022-Present)
10. 6.5, Katrina Matlin (2003-06)

• Cornell's 12 corner kicks marked the first time the Big Red had a double-digit corner-kick total since recording 10 against UAlbany in a double-overtime contest on Aug. 29, 2021. It was the program's most corner kicks since recording 15 against UAlbany on Sept. 15, 2013.

NEXT UP
Cornell will continue its three-match road trip Saturday when it travels to Princeton, N.J., to face Princeton (2-5-3, 1-2-0 Ivy). Kickoff between the Big Red and Tigers at Myslik Field at Roberts Stadium is scheduled for 1 p.m. on ESPN+.

The Tigers are looking to avoid their first three-match losing streak in Ivy League play since 2016, while the Big Red are trying to snap a 14-match road losing streak against Princeton. Cornell has not defeated the Tigers on their home turf since 1995.