NEW HAVEN, Conn. — Junior forward Alanna Colbert scored just 58 seconds into the match to lead the Cornell women's soccer team (3-3-4, 1-1-0 Ivy) to a 1-0 victory over Yale (2-7-0, 0-2-0 Ivy) at Reese Stadium on Saturday evening.

Colbert's early goal supported senior goalkeeper Natalie Medugno, who made four saves to earn a clean sheet in her season debut for the Big Red.

The victory marked Cornell's first road win since defeating Marist, 2-0, on Aug. 30, 2023. It was also the Big Red's first road Ivy League victory since defeating Yale, 1-0, on Oct. 17, 2015.

"Great result for the team. They earned it all week long," stated Cornell women's soccer head coach Rob Ferguson. "After such a tough loss last weekend, the team got everything right from Monday through Saturday. Focus, intensity, relationships, emotions, and today they executed the plan."

Colbert opened the scoring in the first minute, finishing a through-ball from junior forward Emily Gibbons that split two Yale defenders. Her right-footed shot sailed just over sliding goalkeeper Kyla Holmes, who had come out to narrow Colbert's shooting angle.

"The early goal was a great start," Ferguson said. "We picked it off and transitioned incredibly well. [Gibbons'] pass was so well-weighted and Alanna showed pace and composure to tuck it away for a superb finish. We knew counters would be an opportunity.

"We managed the game script really well after such an early goal. It can be difficult to know how to play when you score so early, but the team stayed true to the original plan, which was critical. We were disciplined in executing the block in open play and bringing the intensity in the fixed moments."

Cornell held a 3-1 advantage in shots on goal at halftime, with both teams recording four total shot attempts. Yale dominated corner kicks in the first half, 6-0, but the Bulldogs failed to convert any of their set pieces into scoring opportunities.

Yale applied consistent pressure to Cornell's defense throughout the second half, outshooting the Big Red, 9-1, while also having a 5-0 edge in corner kicks. Six of the Bulldogs' nine second-half shots came in the final 12-plus minutes, including attempts that forced Medugno to make saves in the 81st and 89th minutes. Senior defender Gaby Gonzalez also blocked Phebe Ryan's last-second attempt to tie the match.

"The longer the second half went on, the more the anxiety levels rose," Ferguson said, "but we limited Yale to half-chances and Natalie dealt with what came her way. Izzy [Scott] and Gaby were superb defending corners, and Kayla [Ristianto] dealt with the most threatening player incredibly well, adjusting to a man-marking role in the last 10-or-so minutes. The back four, and the team, collectively, were superb defensively."

MATCH NOTES
• Saturday marked the 43rd all-time meeting between the Big Red and Bulldogs. Cornell narrowed Yale's series lead to 21-19-3 and extended its unbeaten streak against the Bulldogs to four matches (2-0-2).

• Cornell's four-match unbeaten streak against Yale represents its longest since winning five consecutive matches between 1991 and 1995. Saturday's victory also marked the first time the Big Red defeated Yale in back-to-back seasons since 2015 and 2016.

• Each of the last 16 contests between Cornell and Yale have been decided by one goal or less.

• Colbert's goal 58 seconds into the match ranks as the seventh-fastest goal to start a match in program history. It was the quickest goal since Maneesha Chitanvis scored 16 seconds into a contest against Fordham on Sept. 2, 2011. Only goals scored by Molly Easterlin (0:36, at Robert Morris on Sept. 4, 2005) and Tasha Fleury (0:48, vs. Princeton on Sept. 25, 1994) were earlier game-winning goals than Colbert's.

GOALS SCORED WITHIN FIRST MINUTE OF MATCH
Cornell Program History
• 0:16, Maneesha Chitanivs, at Fordham (Sept. 2, 2011)
• 0:22, Jackie Stromberg, at Syracuse (Oct. 13, 2004)
• 0:36*, Molly Easterlin, at Robert Morris (Sept. 4, 2005)
• 0:43, Genna Terranova, at Army (Oct. 22, 1996)
• 0:48*, Tasha Fleury, vs. Princeton (Sept. 25, 1994)
• 0:51, Lena Russomagno, vs. Oakland (Sept. 5, 2008)
• 0:58*, Alanna Colbert, at Yale (Sept. 27, 2025)
• 0:59, Laurie Collier, at Ithaca (Sept. 15, 1987)
NOTE: * - denotes game-winning goal

• Gibbons' assist on Colbert's tally served as the junior's first-ever collegiate point.

• Medugno's four-save clean sheet increased her career total to 6.5, moving her past Meghan Cauzillo (6, 1997-00) and Meghan Kennedy (6, 2015-18) and into a tie with Katrina Matlin (6.5, 2003-06) for the ninth-most career clean sheets 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)
8. 7, Kate Alexander (1992-93)
T9. 6.5, Katrina Matlin (2003-06)
T9. 6.5, Natalie Medugno (2022-Present)

NEXT UP
Cornell will return to Berman Field for its penultimate home match of the season next Saturday, Oct. 4, hosting Harvard (3-4-2, 1-1-0 Ivy) on Homecoming and Alumnae Weekend. Kickoff between the Big Red and Crimson is scheduled for noon on ESPN+.