Cornell women’s soccer rallied from a halftime deficit to defeat Penn, 2–1, Saturday afternoon at Rhodes Field. The win lifted the Big Red to 5–5–4 overall and 2–3–0 in Ivy League play, while the Quakers dropped to 4–4–5 and 0–3–2.
Penn opened the scoring in the 17th minute when Abbey Cook converted to give the hosts an early lead. Cornell responded after halftime, leveling the match in the 54th minute when Sydney Allen struck from 18 yards out to tie it at 1–1. Ten minutes later, Brooke Brown netted the game-winner, pouncing on a rebound after Raya Leikin’s shot hit the post.
The Big Red controlled the second half, outshooting Penn 11–2 after the break and 20–8 overall. Adjustments in midfield helped Cornell dominate possession and limit Penn’s counterattacks, as sophomore Ivy Tolbert anchored the defensive shape alongside senior Abigail Bishara.
Goalkeeper Natalie Medugno made four saves, matching her season high, while seniors Izzy Scott and Gaby Gonzalez led a strong defensive effort.
The victory snapped Cornell’s nine-match winless streak against Penn and marked its first road win over the Quakers since 1995. It was also the Big Red’s first win under head coach Rob Ferguson after trailing at halftime.
Cornell returns home on Saturday, October 25, to host Brown at 1 p.m. on Senior Day.
Kyle leads sports coverage and hosts the Concrete Jungle podcast. Have a lead or question? Send it to [email protected].