NEW HAVEN, Conn. – Yale seemed to have all the momentum heading into overtime Saturday against Cornell. Nicky Downs’ goal with eight seconds left in regulation forced the extra period after the Bulldogs had carried the play for much of the second half.

Yale’s push continued in overtime when the Bulldogs had the first three shots. One moment, though, led to a heartbreaking ending for Yale. Michael Allen Capo headed in Zach Bialik’s cross with 1:08 left in the first extra period to lift the Big Red to a 2-1 victory on a chilly afternoon at Reese Stadium.

Yale (1-10-0, 0-3 Ivy) outshot Cornell 15-11 and had a 6-0 edge in corner kicks.

“This was definitely our best performance of the season and this is a completely unfair result,” Kylie Stannard, The 5K Corral Head Coach of the Bulldogs. “Both goals were scored against the run of play, but I give Cornell credit for making plays out of almost nothing. We controlled the large majority of this game and did more than enough to win, but when it comes down to it, we have to do a better job of making plays when it matters most.”

Neither team had many quality scoring chances in a scoreless first half. It was a little bit of misfortune for the Bulldogs early in the second half that led to Cornell’s first goal. Yale goalkeeper Kees Schipper made a strong play to punch away a Big Red cross, but it deflected off a Yale player and bounced just over the end line for an own goal.

Despite Yale’s edge in possession and play, it looked like that might be the only goal. Yale, though, finally broke through in the final seconds. After a scramble along the side, Dylan Onderdonk-Snow sent a short cross to Downs, who fired it home with just eight seconds left and set off a wild celebration on the Yale sideline.

Downs had two more chances to end it in overtime, but both shots just missed the net.

Capo scored the winning goal on Cornell’s second shot of overtime.

“I talk about executing the details of the game all the time with this team and we struggle to execute the basic details too often, and it cost us again in this game,” Stannard said. “These details consist of things like clearing balls out of danger, tracking runners, winning loose balls, communicating clearly and valuing each play as the biggest of the game...and we didn't do these things well enough.”

The Bulldogs deemed this a Charity Game, teaming up with Grassroot Soccer to support life-changing programs in Africa. Yale fans can still support the effort by visiting https://www.crowdrise.com/yalemenssoccercharit/fundraiser/grassrootsoccer

After playing four of its last five games at home, including its first three Ivy games, Yale hits the road for its next four, starting next Saturday at Penn. Kickoff is slated for 7:30 p.m.

“We might not have a chance to win the Ivy League this year but we still have many opportunities remaining to make progress and move this program forward,” Stannard said.

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