CAMBRIDGE, Mass. -- Freshman
Rebecca Block's fourth collegiate goal tied the game early, but No. 7 Harvard scored twice in a 17-second span before halftime and went on to beat Cornell 4-1 on Friday afternoon at Berylson Field. The loss snapped the Big Red's four-game winning streak and was its first in Ivy League play, dropping Cornell to 5-5 overall and 3-1 in the league. Harvard improved to 9-1 and 4-0 in Ivy matches.
Harvard's Lara Beekhuis scored unassisted at 2:51 to open the scoring, but the Big Red answered right back. Cornell appeared to deflect in a score on a penalty corner, but a foul was called beforehand and the play was awarded as a penalty stroke instead. Block buried it at 8:32 to make it 1-1.
Junior Uma Käding got a ball across the front of the goal but couldn't connect on a shot, and senior
Martha Broderick stopped a chance from Sage Piekarski out front with an all-out effort as the game remained knotted. Harvard then broke through with 4:29 left in the half when Emily Bronckers slotted a tip through to regain the lead at 25:29. Piekarski struck just 17 seconds later, banging a back-shot into the same right corner at 25:46 to make it 3-1.
Evie Smith added an insurance goal for the Crimson early in the third quarter at 32:29 to push the margin to 4-1. Broderick made back-to-back saves later in the quarter to keep it there, finishing the afternoon with three saves. Freshman
Claire Pausz entered for the Big Red in the scoreless fourth quarter and made two stops.
Harvard held a 12-2 edge in shots. Cornell's only shot on goal was Block's penalty stroke, and Harvard goalkeeper Linde Burger was not asked to make a save in picking up the win.
Cornell will celebrate its eight seniors prior to its contest against UAlbany on Sunday, Oct. 11 at 2 p.m. at Marsha Dodson Field.
