The women’s soccer team came away with two draws this past week, rallying late to tie Providence College on the road before playing Binghamton University to a scoreless result at home.
The Red (2-2-4) traveled to Providence, Rhode Island, to take on the Friars at Chapey Field on Thursday. After a first half with limited chances, Providence (3-1-1) struck in the 70th minute, converting a penalty kick to a goal following a video review. Cornell responded in the 85th minute as junior forward Sydney Allen intercepted a misplayed goal kick and combined with junior midfielder Mariana Kessinger before netting the equalizer.
“I got the ball off of a transition moment and I was able to capitalize on that transition,” Allen said. “I made a run and she saw it, and it was a good connection — that’s kind of what we are always trying to do, anticipate each other’s movements and try to capitalize on them.”
The Red pushed for a winner but ultimately settled for a 1–1 draw. Freshman goalkeeper Samantha Qureshey kept Cornell in the match with five saves, four of them coming in the second half. The Red finished with 12 shots, three on target, while Providence tallied 11 shots, six on frame.
Head coach Rob Ferguson praised his team’s resilience, saying Cornell had “done more than enough to earn the tie, and quite possibly win the game.”
Allen also pointed to the impact of Qureshey, who has emerged as a steady presence in her first year starting.
“We have a freshman goalkeeper who’s been excellent all season,” Allen said. “She has a lot of confidence and directs the back line very well.”
Just three days later, on Sunday, Cornell returned to Berman Field to face Binghamton (5-1-2). The Red controlled play throughout, outshooting the Bearcats 15-7 and holding a decisive 7-0 advantage in shots on goal. Despite the dominance, Cornell could not break through, and the match ended 0-0.
The back line, led by seniors Gaby Gonzalez and Izzy Scott along with junior Kayla Ristianto, helped record the team’s third shutout of the season. Qureshey was untested in goal, extending her shutout streak to over 110 minutes.
Allen acknowledged the team’s resilience in pushing through early-season challenges.
“A lot of people have been battling injuries and it’s pretty awesome to see them come forward,” Allen said. “It’s so interesting to think about my evolution on the team. This year, I definitely see myself in more of a leadership role. People respond to action, and when a lot of people talk a lot, it’s harder to actually do as they say. What I’ve been trying to do is follow through with my words when it comes to being a leader figure on the team.”
With the two draws, Cornell sits at 2-2-4 on the year. The team will aim to turn their chances into goals as they prepare for Ivy League play later this month. For Allen, that means sharpening the attack and staying composed in physical matchups.
“For us, scoring goals is definitely something we’re working on, and we’ve had a lot of ties — as a forward, it’s definitely something I’m personally working on,” Allen said. “We talk a lot about communication, giving angles and providing support. You’re either the aggressor or the recipient of other teams’ aggression.”
The Red next takes the field against Columbia for its home conference opener on Sep. 20. The match kicks off at 1 p.m. and will be streamed on ESPN+.
