MOUNT VERNON, Iowa – Augustana jumped in front 3-0 Thursday and eventually held on for a 4-2 victory at Cornell. Coach Scott Mejia's side improved to 3-0 on the season, while the host Rams dropped to 1-1.
 
Cornell keeper Nell Rosenthal made a pair of saves in the first 14 minutes, but senior Andria Serra (Alleman HS, Silvis, Ill.) got the Vikings on the board in minute 16. Her shot from the top of the 18 found the right side of the goal to make it 1-0.
 
Augustana extended its advantage near the end of the first half. Junior Cora Jacobsen (Palatine HS, Palatine, Ill.) tallied her first goal of the season and the Vikings took a 2-0 lead to intermission.
 
In the 54th minute, sophomore Sandra Camarillo (United Township HS, Silvis, Ill.) parlayed a Lauren Muzzalupo (St. Charles North HS, St. Charles, Ill.) assist into a goal that gave Augustana a seemingly comfortable 3-0 edge.
 
The Rams struck in quick succession in minutes 75 and 76, however. Sofia Schnur scored first to end the Vikings' streak of 273 scoreless defensive minutes to open the season. Less than a minute later, Cornell's Layne Pullen added a goal to draw her side to within 3-2.
 
Serra gave Augustana some breathing room in the 86th minute, launching a shot over Rosenthal's head from about 30 yards out to make it 4-2 and account for the final.
 
The Vikings outshot their hosts by a 15-4 margin. Augustana put 13 of its attempts on goal, while all of the Rams' shots were on frame. Viking sophomore Sydney Ion (Aquinas HS, La Crosse, Wis.) made two saves, while Rosenthal stopped nine shots.
 
Corners were 3-2 in favor of Augustana and the Vikings committed nine fouls to seven for Cornell.
 
On Saturday, September 8, Mejia's crew will take on St. Mary's in Notre Dame, Indiana at noon EDT.