Junior forwards Alanna Colbert and Emily Gibbons wasted no time making their mark on Saturday night, linking up for the decisive goal just 58 seconds into Cornell’s Ivy League clash with Yale at Reese Stadium. Seamlessly set up by Gibbons, Colbert’s right-footed strike beat the onrushing goalkeeper and stood as the lone tally in a 1-0 victory. It marked the seventh-fastest goal in program history and the quickest for the Red since 2011.
For Colbert, the play was instinctive.
“The ball was placed right on my foot. At that point, it was just a foot race,” Colbert said. “I think it was easier for me at that moment because it was the first attacking play in that game. I knew even if that didn’t go in, we still had the full 89 minutes to go in. To have that perfect ball and perfect set up, I could have closed my eyes and shot it and it probably would have went in.”
The victory marked Cornell’s first Ivy League road win since defeating Yale in 2015 and its first road win of any kind since August 2023, milestones that carry extra weight in a tightly contested conference.
Colbert, who netted the game’s only goal, later exited with an apparent injury. Her status is still uncertain, and the Red will be hoping for a quick recovery as Ivy League play continues.
While the early breakthrough set the tone, Cornell’s defense and senior goalkeeper Natalie Medugno secured the result. Making her season debut, the senior recorded four saves and managed Yale’s late push with composure, tying her for ninth in program history with 6.5 career clean sheets. The Bulldogs controlled much of the match, holding a 13–4 advantage in shots and an 11–0 edge in corner kicks, with six of those chances coming in the final 12 minutes. Still, Cornell’s back line bent without breaking, highlighted by senior defender Gaby Gonzalez’s last-second block to preserve the shutout.
“It was definitely a confidence booster, especially now knowing that some of the top Ivy teams are missing key players from last year,” Colbert said. “The title this year is up for grabs, and anyone can get it. This definitely pushes us towards not giving up and taking every game like it’s our last.”
The junior forward also sees the game as part of her own growth, aiming to turn big moments into consistent production. “Personally, I want to take a bigger role in attacking and being able to put away goals for my team, and not just one every few games. I want to be a consistent scorer for them.”
To reach that level, Colbert has committed to extra work outside of practice. “I’ve definitely been taking the time out of my day – whether it be going to extra practices, before practices, or after practice to get my shots down, working on my attacking mode, and bringing other teammates with me that are on the front line,” she added.
Cornell, now 3-3-4 overall and 1-1 in Ivy play, will look to build on its momentum when it returns to Ithaca next weekend. After a historic win sparked by Gibbon’s assist, Colbert’s lightning strike and anchored by a collective defensive effort, the Red will head home with belief that this season’s path in the Ivy League is still wide open.
The Red will play Harvard next on Saturday, Oct. 4, at 12 p.m. at Berman Field in Ithaca. The match will be streamed live on ESPN+.
