Sometimes a game begins long before the first whistle. It begins when the opposing team leaves the comfort of its campus and makes its way to Ithaca. It begins inside the locker room, as the Red gathers to review its game plan. And it begins outside Berman Field, where parents and supporters gather for pregame tailgates, discussing predictions, matchups and their lives as they await kickoff.
On a cool, rainy Sunday, this familiar ritual began to take place. The Red filed into its locker room, anticipating its matchup against the Pittsburgh Panthers, while outside, the parking lot filled with parents and fans making their way toward the field. Though it started to sprinkle, it did little to dampen the excitement as conversations carried from the tailgate to the stands.
Once the whistle blew, Cornell gave its supporters plenty to talk about.
The Red (2-2-0, 0-0-0 Ivy) opened with control and composure, taking an early lead before Pittsburgh (4-1-1, 0-0-0 ACC) pulled momentum back in its favor after halftime. Despite a late push from the Red, the Panthers held on for a 2-1 victory.
The afternoon began how Cornell hoped.
In the 12th minute of the first half, senior midfielder and co-captain Emily Gibbons put the Red on the board, securing her third goal of the season and her fourth across her last five appearances dating back to last season. The play began with junior midfielder Lauren DiPierri intercepting a Pittsburgh pass at midfield, then quickly moving the ball forward to senior forward Alanna Colbert. The play finished with Colbert finding Gibbons, who fired a left-footed shot from the top of the box into the net.
The rapid-fire sequence reflected the outstanding defensive pressure and quick decision-making Cornell emphasized coming into this season.
“We know if we get the setup right and we get angles right, we’ll pick off passes,” head coach Rob Ferguson said. “It was cool, calm, it was collected. We did not panic.”
For much of the first half, Cornell’s defensive organization kept Pittsburgh at bay. The Panthers controlled possession for a few stretches of play, but the Red limited its opportunities in front of the net and carried its lead into halftime.
After halftime, the momentum started to shift.
Pittsburgh came out of the break with increased pressure and quickly found its groove. At the 50-minute mark, Katie Ellermeyer tied it for the Panthers, scoring off of a penalty kick. This goal ended freshman goalkeeper Sofia Kerrigan’s shutout streak of 151 minutes.
The goal continued a trend that Ferguson said the team must address, with the penalty marking the Red’s third penalty kick conceded in four games.
Pittsburgh continued pressing, and in the 67th minute, took the lead off quick, impressive ball movement.
With the Panthers now in the lead, Kerrigan kept the Red within striking distance, recording a season-high of six saves. One of which was a crucial stop that prevented the Panthers from extending their lead.
Cornell, looking for an equalizer, earned its lone corner kick of the afternoon in the 87th minute. However, Pittsburgh’s defense held firm through the final whistle.
The loss marked the end of Cornell’s four-game home stand to begin the season. The Red will now head into a four-game road stretch before Ivy League play begins. Rather than viewing the change of scenery as a disadvantage, Ferguson sees the upcoming trips as an opportunity for the team to grow closer.
“It’s a great chance for them to just pull closer together and build,” Ferguson said. “We’re together the whole time, so we’ll lean into that.”
Cornell will look to rebound from Sunday’s defeat while carrying the positives from its opening four matches into its next challenge. Though it was a tough loss, it showed a team capable of matching a strong opponent for long stretches while also exposing weaker areas that will need to be cleaned up and strengthened as the season progresses.
The Red will face Colgate at 6 p.m. on Thursday at Beyer-Small ’76 Field in Hamilton, New York. The match will be streamed on ESPN+.
Sureya Lopez is a member of the Class of 2029 in the College of Arts and Sciences. She is a staff writer for the sports department and can be reached at slopez@cornellsun.com.
