BY MARISSA VELASQUEZ
The Red is looking to bounce back after this weekend’s loss against Colgate.
With two upcoming games against Marist College and the University of Albany, the team says it has the ability to make a strong presence early in the season. Head coach Patrick Farmer is going into his second season with the Red, and the small roster of 25 players, mostly consisting of freshmen, is looking to improve on its record from previous seasons.
Cornell (1-1) started off its season taking on a 1-0 victory over Sacred Heart this past weekend, which highlighted freshman midfielder Dempsey Banks’ assist to junior midfielder Kerry Schubert for the only goal of the game. The game was the Red’s first win of the season, as well as Cornell’s first season debut victory since defeating Oakland (Mich.) in 2008.
Although the Red triumphed over Sacred Heart, the team came up short in its match against Colgate (4-1), in which freshman goalkeeper, Kelsey Tierney made her collegiate debut by saving the only goal that was sent her way. With a vigorous game schedule ahead, the squad hopes to win both games this weekend and continue to push forward throughout the season.
Cornell will first take on Marist College (1-2-2). The Red Foxes are looking to add a win to their record despite the tie and the loss from their past weekend of play. In the Red’s encounter with Marist in 2011, Cornell fell 0-2 at the Red Fox Invitational, in which Marist’s freshman midfielder Amanda Epstein succeeded in defeating the Red by scoring both goals. Returning this year for her junior season, Epstein has scored goals and assists thus far in the season, posing a threat to the Red.
University of Albany (1-4) is looking to push its way out of its four game losing streak. With its only win so far against Florida Atlantic University, the Great Danes are trying to bounce back from their latest 6-0 loss against Hofstra and are looking to pull out a win against the Red. In 2012, the Red fell, 2-5, to the University of Albany, although the Red did have the advantage in shot selection throughout the entirety of the game. During a friendly, non-league game the Red came out fighting when Xandra Hompe ’13 scored two goals for the first time in her college career and senior goalkeeper Tori Christ made a pair of saves in her fourth collegiate game debut. The Red looks to continue to build on the intensity shown in the previous seasons to bring home a win against the Danes.
On Sept. 13, the Red will take on the Marist College at home at Charles Berman Field, followed by a match against the University of Albany on Sept. 15.