Box Score

ITHACA, N.Y. - Two second half goals were enough to sink the Niagara women's soccer team (2-7-0) on Sunday afternoon, dropping a 2-0 decision to the host Cornell Big Red (2-8-0).

Niagara peppered Cornell goalkeeper Megan Bartlett with eight shots in the first half, but were unable to get one past her. With the game barely five minutes old, Kayla Picanco and Catherine Meyer put together a string of shots, but Bartlett was up to the task each time.

Niagara goalkeeper Gabrielle Wilson made four saves in the first half to help keep the game scoreless, including a header save on Sidra Bonner in the 41st minute.

"It's a disappointing loss because we played a great first half," head coach Peter Veltri said. "We should have been up two or three at the half, but instead we allowed them to stay in the game and we paid for it."

The Big Red would finally breakthrough in the 60th minute, when Maneesha Chitanvis beat Wilson for the 1-0 lead.  Niagara came close to tying it late in the game, when Jamie Raepple ripped a Chelsea Mandrino corner kick right into the Cornell defense in the 83rd minute. About 30 seconds later, Michaela DiFazio sent a header wide of the Big Red net.

Brook Chang would make it 2-0 for the Big Red in the 88th minute.
 
Wilson made nine saves in the loss.

"Hopefully we can regroup and maintain our level of play for 90 minutes next time," Veltri said.

The Purple Eagles are back in action when they start Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference play on Friday, when they take on the Saint Peter's Peahens at 3 p.m.