NEW HAVEN, Conn. – There is nothing Yale women’s soccer coach Rudy Meredith stresses more than the importance of scoring first. His team hasn’t always been able to deliver this season, but that is starting to change. For the second straight game, the Bulldogs got the first goal, and in this case the only goal, in a 1-0 victory over Cornell on Saturday night at Reese Stadium.

Julian Jeffrey scored the winning goal just 3 minutes, 41 seconds into the second half.

“We started off better,” Meredith said. “We didn’t have to chase the game.”

Jeffrey’s goal came after Cornell goalkeeper Kelsey Tierney stopped a Geneva Decker shot. The rebound, though, came right to Jeffrey, who was alone in front of the goal. Meredith Speck was also credited with an assist on the play.

That was more than enough for a Yale defense that is playing very well. The Bulldogs have now posted back-to-back shutouts. Goalkeeper Elise Wilcox made five saves to earn the victory.

Cornell (7-4-2, 1-3 Ivy) had a 13-12 edge in shots.

“We bent but didn’t break,” Meredith said of the defensive effort. “Elise made a couple of nice saves. Hopefully two straight shutouts will give us some confidence on defense.”

Yale beat Cornell 1-0 for the second straight year.

The first half was evenly played with the Big Red holding a 4-3 edge in shots.

Both teams generated more offense in the second half. Wilcox’s best save of the night came when she stopped Caroline Growney, who had gotten behind the defense and raced in on goal midway through the second half.

The Bulldogs (7-5, 2-2 Ivy) are back in action next Saturday at Penn at 5 p.m.