Gregory's Golden Goal Lifts Women's Soccer at St. Bonaventure

OLEAN, N.Y. – In the earliest women's soccer game in program history, a late goal made the difference. Kaili Gregory scored on a free kick in the 100th minute, capping Cornell's rally for a 2-1 overtime victory against St. Bonaventure on Friday night at Marra Athletics Complex. Naomi Jaffe scored the first goal for Cornell (1-0), which already has 40 percent of its goal total from the 2017 season. After the Big Red equalized on Jaffe's first collegiate strike in the 65th minute, St. Bonaventure (0-2-1) made a push on its home turf. Goalkeeper Meghan Kennedy made her last of three saves on the night with just 51 seconds left in regulation time. It was all Cornell from there, following up on its 1-0-2 record in extra time from a season ago. Kennedy Yearby forced a save from St. Bonaventure's goalkeeper in the 92th minute, then she sent a header off a cross from Juliana Comer just wide nearly five minutes later. The Big Red then capitalized on a free kick with 56 seconds remaining on the clock, with the left-footed Gregory curling a shot to the goalkeeper's right. It was Gregory's second collegiate goal, with her first also serving as a game-winner on a restart when she thumped in a penalty kick last year against Maine. Cornell got off to a good start Friday in sending five shots on target in the first half, but it was the host Bonnies who struck first on Bella Marra's goal in the 40th minute. Maddie Mason had the initial chance with a shot that clanked off the crossbar, then Marra cashed in a header on the rebound. The Big Red tied the game just shy of 20 minutes into the second half when Jaffe's drive through traffic sailed just inside the right post. With the win, Cornell improved to 21-11-5 in its 37 season debuts in program history. The Big Red is also now 11-4-1 all-time against the Bonnies. Cornell returns to Ithaca for its home opener at 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 31 against Buffalo at Berman Field. The game will be broadcast on the Ivy League on ESPN.