SU’s offense surges in 2nd half to secure win over Cornell
After making halftime adjustments with its build out and attack, Syracuse exploded in the second half with two goals to defeat Cornell. Lars Jendruschewitz | Senior Staff Photographer
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While holding a 1-0 halftime lead over Cornell, Syracuse head coach Nicky Thrasher Adams saw room for adjustments. In the opening half, the Orange pressed aggressively, with goalkeeper Shea Vanderbosch often bypassing the backline and punting to SU’s defensive midfielders.
The approach neutralized Cornell’s attack. Sydney Allen, Alanna Colbert and Mariana Kessinger hovered around Syracuse defenders Jasmine Nixon, Bree Bridges and Natalie Magnotta, but they rarely saw the ball.
At halftime, Adams shifted focus. The Orange had neutralized the Big Red’s three top threats. SU just needed to build its lead. And that’s what it did.
Powered by two goals in 23 seconds, Syracuse (4-1-3, 0-0-0 Atlantic Coast) used an explosive second half and a new-look build-out to roll past Cornell (2-2-2, 0-0-0 Ivy) 3-0. After initially absorbing the Big Red’s high press, the Orange pushed the ball through the channels, slowed the tempo and controlled possession in the second half to secure their first win since Aug. 24.
“We got (our defensive midfielders) out, which opened our ability to change the point of attack,” Adams said postgame. “If (Cornell’s) gonna go high, we’re gonna go over them.”
Against Binghamton on Thursday, SU’s offense looked flustered. There were yells of frustration. A whirlwind of the Bearcats’ aggressive press and a downpour of rain had Syracuse playing safe. But each time Vanderbosch laid the ball off to one of her defenders, they were swarmed.
If Vanderbosch were to do the same Sunday, the result would’ve been similar. Allen, Colbert and Kessinger weren’t afraid to clamp down on the Orange’s new backline. But their decisions opened up Maya McDermott, Mia Klammer and Julia Arbelaez out wide.
By playing wide, Syracuse began to dictate play. Every missed shot turned into another chance as the Orange recycled possession and pressed Cornell’s defense. It started in the back.
“Vanderbosch did a really good job of organizing a bit better today, looking at options,” Adams said. “It was just better decision making all around.”
After scoring its first goal in over 200 minutes in the first half, Syracuse was in the driver’s seat — but not by much. Cornell was fighting. It pinned two shots on SU’s net in the first half, but the game was far from over.
When the second-half whistle blew, there was a different energy. Syracuse controlled Cornell’s press. It resulted in the Orange finding unoccupied grass going forward.
Just two minutes in, Syracuse was already on the attack. Anna Rupert — who hadn’t scored since Aug. 25, 2024 against Mercyhurst — sprinted down the right wing. After an attempted cross into the middle, the Orange were awarded a corner kick.
SU came up empty on the set piece, but its offense stayed forward. Eight minutes later, Rupert was at it again. This time, she cut past Cornell defender Isabel Chapman and charged into the box. Gaby Gonzalez trailed close behind, but Rupert was in front, one-on-one with goalkeeper Samantha Qureshey.
Qureshey raced off her line and cut off Rupert’s run. Rupert fired a low shot, but Qureshey’s hands deflected it away. The rebound spilled loose. Qureshey charged toward the ball, but Rupert beat her to it and booted it into the back of the net.
“I missed a chance in the first half. Those are the things you need to be a goldfish about,” Rupert said postgame. “In the second half, you just gotta make it happen.”
It wasn’t long before the Orange struck again. Just 23 seconds after Rupert’s score, Ashley Rauch pushed forward and tapped the ball off to McDermott. Surrounded by five Cornell defenders with only one orange jersey ahead, McDermott had limited options. But it was the right one.
Mia Klammer — Syracuse’s leading scorer with four goals entering Sunday — was charging upfield. McDermott lifted a pass over Cornell defender Kayla Ristianto into Klammer’s path. With Allen chasing at her hip, Klammer fired the shot past a diving Qureshey and into the back of the net.
In less than half a minute, Syracuse had turned a narrow edge into a commanding lead.
It never looked back. By the final whistle, SU’s explosive second half had not only delivered a 3-0 win but also marked a clear step forward from the frustrations of Binghamton, giving the Orange their first victory in two weeks.
“Knowing that we were capable, and then going into the second half with fire, going 100%, I think that really helped,” Rupert said.
