ITHACA, N.Y. – The Niagara women’s soccer team was unable to hang onto its first-half lead, as the Purple Eagles fell, 2-1, in overtime to Cornell Friday evening at Berman Field. With the loss, Niagara falls to 3-4 on the season, while Cornell improves to 4-3.

"It was a pretty evenly contested game," head coach Peter Veltri said. "We fought hard. We had a lot of opportunities to score but couldn’t capitalize."

Niagara took the lead in the 39th minute as senior Brittany Bisnott (Brampton, Ont.) recorded her MAAC-leading fifth goal of the season on an assist from junior Aisha Eversley (Mississauga, Ont.). Eversley received the ball just past midfield, turned and sent a pass behind the Big Red backline. Bisnott outran the defenders, collected the ball near the right corner of the 18-yard box and was all alone with Cornell goalkeeper Jodie Palmer. Bisnott touched the ball around Palmer and knocked it into the lower left corner of the net from 10 yards out.

The Purple Eagles outshot the Big Red, 13-9, in the first half, but were held to a single goal despite numerous scoring chances. Cornell’s Palmer made some incredible saves near the end of the first half to keep the score close.

Cornell equalized in the 51st minute on a shot by freshman Lena Russomagno. Russomagno stripped a Niagara defender of the ball and buried her shot in the left side netting out of the reach of freshman goalkeeper Ashleigh Bowers (Liverpool, N.Y.).

Sophomore Sarah Stephens (Toledo, Ohio) started the match in goal for the Purple Eagles and was forced to make only one save. Bowers played the second half and overtime period, recording four saves in 55 minutes of work.

Cornell scored the game-winning goal with 18 seconds left in the first overtime. On a throw in, Lauren Lynn tossed the ball over Niagara’s defender to Natalie Zandt. Zandt received the ball, took a dribble and chipped Bowers, who had come out to challenge the shot. Bowers managed to get her hand on the ball, but couldn’t keep it out of the net.

Niagara held a slight advantage in corner kicks, but the Purple Eagles were unable to take advantage of the set pieces. In all, Niagara fired 18 shots, including four by Bisnott, while junior Shaylyn Lawrence (Baldwinsville, N.Y) and sophomore Chiara Greco (Hamilton, Ont.) pitched in with three shots apiece.

Niagara travels to St. Bonaventure to face the Bonnies Sunday at 1 p.m.