Junior Emily Manoogian scored one goal Sunday afternoon to help
Colgate women’s soccer to shutout Cornell 3-0 in Ithaca. (Photo by Bob Cornell)
By Kat Castner
(Ithaca, NY – Sept. 8, 2013) Colgate earned an impressive 3-0 victory over nearby rival Cornell in a women’s soccer contest here Sunday afternoon.
The Raiders move to 4-1 on the season thanks to goals by Emily Manoogian, Caroline Brawner and Lexi Panepinto. Both Manoogian and Panepinto notched their first of the season.
“It was great that we had three different players score three different types of goals today,” Colgate head coach Kathy Brawn said. “There are still some things we need to do in some other parts of the field and in the game, however, that fortunately didn’t cost us today. We will have to do a better job managing that in the games moving forward.
“Cornell battled the whole 90 minutes and we were lucky to catch them in their second game of the year, instead of later on down the road. They are much improved from past years, so kudos to them for hanging tough.”
Following a slow start for Colgate, the Big Red had their best scoring chance in the 10th minute. Cornell earned a corner kick after Chelsea Roche blocked a Dempsey Banks’ shot. Rachel Nichols took the kick, finding the head of Claire MacManus, who redirected it on net inside the 18-yard box. Colgate goalie Erin Cummings made a brilliant save on the play, getting a hand on the ball and pushing it off the crossbar and back into play. The Raiders were able to clear the ball before the Big Red could do any damage.
Five minutes later the Raiders notched the game’s first goal after Catherine Williams sent a perfect ball to the head of Manoogian, where she finished it for the 1-0 advantage. Taryn Tomczyk started the play by finding the foot of Williams on the left side of the field. Williams shook her defender and crossed the ball to a waiting Manoogian on the far post. Manoogian redirected the ball back across the face of the goal to the opposite top left-hand corner of the goal.
The Raiders extended their lead to 2-0 following Brawner’s second goal of the season. Jenna Panepinto played a simple ball over to Brawner, who beat her defender and tried her luck on goal from 20 yards out. Her riffled shot sailed into the top right corner of the net.
Less than two minutes later, Colgate found the back of the net again thanks to a Lexi Panepinto strike to the upper 90. Brawner added an assist on her day when she crossed the ball over to Panepinto, who saw an opening and fired a hard shot to the corner of the goal.
In the closing minutes before half, Roche came up big yet again for the Raiders when she tallied her second defensive block of the game. Cornell’s Caroline Growney earned a breakaway opportunity on the left side of the field. Roche, who came from behind, threw her body in front of the driven shot, blocking it out of play.
Throughout much of the second half, Colgate held the ball possession, allowing the Raiders to find open shots.
Jenna Panepinto played the ball over the Big Red back four to a running Sarah Coy. The rookie took one touch before shooting near post, where Cornell’s goalie came up with a big save.
Late in the game, Sidney Parodie sent a pass over to Sophie Lederer, who quickly played the ball to Morgan Davis. The newbie managed to get a shot off in traffic but again, Cornell’s goalie was there to make the save.
Colgate finished the game not conceding any goals, giving Cummings her second shutout of the year.
“Erin’s really stepped up and has been fantastic for us,” Brawn said. “We really challenged her to have more of a presence in the goal. She has definitely shown that every time she’s stepped on the field, not just in the games but in practice as well. It’s given her and her teammate more confidence.
“We will get ready now for our big weekend against Marquette and DePaul and keep building on the good things we are doing.”
The Raiders are back on the pitch Friday when they travel to reigning Big East champions Marquette in a contest that starts at 7 p.m. Central time.
NOTES: This was Colgate’s first shutout of Cornell since the 2011 season … This is the Raiders’ first 4-1 start since 2006 … Raiders hold the series advantage over Cornell, 17-15-3 … Brawner earned her third career three-point game … Colgate has shut out its opponent in four of five games this season, and Cummings has allowed only one goal in that stretch.