ITHACA, N.Y. — Junior forward Sydney Allen's header off a set piece by senior midfielder Mariana Kessinger in the 87th minute broke a 1-1 tie, leading the Cornell women's soccer team (1-0-1) to a 2-1 victory over Central New York rival Colgate (1-1-1) in the program's home opener Sunday afternoon on Berman Field.

Joining Allen in scoring for the Big Red was junior forward Alanna Colbert, who opened the scoring in the 20th minute, capitalizing on a takeaway by senior midfielder Abigail Bishara.

Freshman goalkeeper Samantha Qureshey continued her impressive first weekend with the Big Red by making three saves.

Molly Richards scored Colgate's only goal in the 53rd minute on a corner kick delivered by Cate Childers. Ella Poppinga made three saves in goal for the Raiders.

"Incredibly proud of the team," Cornell women's soccer head coach Rob Ferguson said. "The grit, determination, and character to win a game. Two games in three days, we were at a huge disadvantage. [Colgate] had a full day and a half extra rest on us. They're five games in, we're two games in, I think that showed. We weren't close to our best today, lethargic in moments and second-best for long spells of the game, but we defended really well and astutely did what we needed in a game like this. Most impressively, in the last 20 minutes, we took back control of the game when we needed it."

Qureshey was tested in the 13th minute on a shot by Colgate midfielder Ari Bezanson near the edge of the penalty area, making a diving save to her right.



After Cornell's first three shot attempts missed the goal, the Big Red took the lead in the 20th minute following a Colgate goal kick. Bishara chipped the ball away from Richards near the edge of the penalty box, leading to Colbert one-touching the ball past Poppinga.



Colgate leveled the match in the 53rd minute as Richards headed in a set piece by Childers at the near-side goal post.

Allen's late-game heroics were on display in the 87th minute when she headed a set piece by Kessinger from 40 yards out past Poppinga. The goal was Allen's fourth in her collegiate career, all of which have been game-winning scores.



"She's a goal scorer," Ferguson said. "She has an eye for goals, there's no denying that. More importantly, over the past week, she's just never been more bought in. The character she's showing away from the field, the positivity and vibe she's bringing to the table is so positive. It just makes a difference. I'm so happy she got the goal she deserved."

MATCH NOTES
• Sunday marked the 46th all-time meeting between Cornell and Colgate, as the Big Red reduced the Raiders' series lead to 22-19-5. Cornell is now unbeaten in its last five matches against Colgate (4-0-1), its longest streak without a loss to its geographic rival since winning seven straight games between 1986 and 1992.

• With Cornell's one-goal victory, 10 of the last 11 matches between the Big Red and Raiders have been decided by one goal or less.

• Allen's goal at 86:03 was the sixth-latest game-winning goal in Cornell's history and the most recent since Brenna Mockler scored with 11 seconds remaining against UAlbany on Sept. 15, 2013.
 
LATEST NON-OVERTIME GAME-WINNING GOAL
Cornell Program History
• 89:56, Tasha Fleury, at Princeton (Sept. 21, 1991)
• 89:49, Brenna Mockler, vs. UAlbany (Sept. 15, 2013)
• 89:10, Laurie Collier, at Brown (Oct. 17, 1987)
• 88:20, Sarah Olsen, at Vermont (Oct. 4, 2002)
• 87:57, Amy Duesing, at Providence (Oct. 31, 1993)
• 86:03, Sydney Allen, vs. Colgate (Aug. 24, 2025)
• 85:08, Amy Finkelstein, at Yale (Nov. 5, 1994)

• Allen's goal was her fourth game-winner of her collegiate career. She is one shy of matching Amy Deusing (1991-94), Jen Tidsbury (1991-94), Emily Knight (2000-03), and Paige DeLoach (2014-17) for the 10th-most game-winning goals in program history. Laurie Collier (1984-87) owns the record with 11.

• Sophomore defender Amanda Polyniak made her first collegiate start, playing 58 minutes. Sophomore forward Lauren DiPierri appeared in her first match of the season, playing 42 minutes off the bench.

• The Big Red are unbeaten in their first two matches for the 18th time in program history and for the third straight season, after having records of 1-0-1 and 0-0-2 in the last two seasons.

NEXT UP
Cornell will continue its three-match homestand on Thursday when it welcomes La Salle (1-2-0) to Berman Field. Match action is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m., and will be broadcast on ESPN+.

After defeating Bucknell, 3-2, in its season opener on Aug. 14, the Explorers have dropped a pair of 2-1 contests against Lehigh (Aug. 20) and Stony Brook (Aug. 24).
 
Justyce Hollenbach paces La Salle's offense with her two goals, both of which have come in La Salle's last two matches. Mackenna Yaracs has played all 270 minutes in goal for the Explorers, having a 2.00 goals-against average and .667 save percentage (12 saves).