NEWTON, Mass. — Freshman goalkeeper Samantha Qureshey made four saves as the Cornell women's soccer team's defense kept a strong Boston College offense off the scoreboard during their scoreless draw at the Newton Campus Soccer and Lacrosse Field on Friday evening.
 
Olivia Shippee earned her second clean sheet of the season for Boston College (2-0-1), making two saves against Cornell (0-0-1).
 
"Proud of the team for the performance they put in today," said Cornell women's soccer head coach Rob Ferguson. "They showed real grit and character to compete all over the field. We know opening day is a challenge with game fitness and we are a few weeks and a few games behind our opponents, but we didn't let that be an excuse."

Qureshey was tested early in the match, making all four of her saves in the first half. Sophie Reale took the Eagles' first shot on goal in the fifth minute, before Qureshey made an impressive sliding kick save in the 18th minute that prevented freshman Emily Mara from scoring her second goal of the season.

"Sam and the back four were excellent," Ferguson praised. "Bodies on the line, brave, and blocking shots, but also intelligent in their movement and positioning against a very athletic and high-quality team who have been scoring goals for fun."

Junior forward Alanna Colbert took the Big Red's only shot in the first 45 minutes, which was saved by Shippee in the 14th minute.

Cornell had a pair of corner kicks within the first 10 minutes of the second half before Boston College appeared to take the lead in the 56th minute, but the goal was waved off because it was offside.

Colbert had a great scoring chance from a set piece after a Boston College yellow card in the 69th minute, but her attempt was blocked by Eagles junior defender Bella Douglas at the right post.

The Big Red earned two corner kicks in the final 11 minutes, with both set pieces producing shot attempts. Senior midfielder Abigail Bishara had a scoring chance in the 85th minute on Cornell's first corner, but Boston College sophomore midfielder Ashley Roberts managed to head away the shot. Senior defender Izzy Scott's header on the following corner went wide of the goal.

Boston College had a few close scoring opportunities in the final five minutes, but both shots missed wide of the goal.

"Both teams had their chances to win it," Ferguson said, "and both came within inches, but I think the end result was probably fair. We can take a lot of positives, but there is a lot to work on as we build into the season. To come away to an ACC team on opening day, keep a clean sheet, and compete very well is an excellent start."

MATCH NOTES
• Friday marked the eighth meeting between the Big Red and Eagles, with the series still led by Boston College at 3-2-3. The Eagles remain unbeaten in their last six encounters against Cornell (3-0-3).
 
• By starting on opening day, Qureshey became Cornell's first true-freshman goalkeeper to start a season opener since Erica Fox in 2021. Qureshey is the eighth freshman goalkeeper in program history to start the season opener, joining Lisa Brigham (1982), Kate Thompson (1983), Kate Alexander (1992), Katie Thomas (2001), Jodi Palmer (2007), and Nicole Shulman (2019).
 
FRESHMEN GOALKEEPERS TO START SEASON OPENER
Cornell Program History
• Lisa Brigham (Sept. 18, 1982, vs. Princeton)
• Kate Thompson (Sept. 17, 1983, vs. Skidmore)
• Kate Alexander (Sept. 13, 1992, vs. Providence)
• Katie Thomas (Sept. 9, 2001, at Lafayette)
• Jodi Palmer (Aug. 31, 2007, at Hofstra)
• Nicole Shulman (Aug. 30, 2019, vs. Iona)
• Erica Fox (Aug. 27, 2021, vs. Canisius)
• Samantha Qureshey (Aug. 22, 2025, at Boston College)
 
• Qureshey also became the fifth true-freshman goalkeeper to record a clean sheet in a season opener, joining Thompson (1983), Alexander (1992), Thomas (2001), and Fox (2021).
 
FRESHMEN GOALKEEPERS TO EARN CLEAN SHEET IN SEASON OPENER
Cornell Program History
• Kate Thompson (Sept. 17, 1983, vs. Skidmore)
• Kate Alexander (Sept. 13, 1992, vs. Providence)
• Katie Thomas (Sept. 9, 2001, at Lafayette)
• Erica Fox (Aug. 27, 2021, vs. Canisius)
• Samantha Qureshey (Aug. 22, 2025, at Boston College)
 
• Joining Qureshey in starting their first collegiate match were her classmates defender Raya Leikin and forward Andrea Wilson, marking the most freshmen to start in a season opener since 2021 (Erica Fox, Reinna Gabriel, and Peyton Nichols).
 
• Sophomore forward Estelle Jarrells and sophomore midfielder Ivy Tolbert also made their collegiate debuts, playing 18 and 14 minutes, respectively, off the bench.
 
• Cornell did not score in a season opener for the first time since 2017, when it lost 3-0 to Syracuse. It is only the third time since 2010 that the Big Red failed to score in a season opener.
 
• Cornell's clean sheet was its 19th time starting a season by keeping an opponent scoreless, marking its first shutout in a season opener since 2021, when it beat Canisius 2-0 in Ithaca. Friday's scoreless draw was the first 0-0 result in a season opener since Aug. 28, 2015, against Siena.
 
NEXT UP
Cornell will return to Ithaca for its home opener and begin a three-match homestand on Sunday, welcoming Central New York rival Colgate (1-0-1) to Berman Field. First touch is scheduled for 1 p.m. Match action will be broadcast on ESPN+.

Colgate secured a 2-1 victory over Marist at Beyer-Small '76 Field in Hamilton on Thursday night. Josie Tunney and Nikki DiCaprio each scored their first goals of the collegiate careers in the win.