MOUNT VERNON – The Rams played with urgency after intermission and it showed on the scoreboard in Thursday's 3-1 women's soccer win over NAIA's Iowa Wesleyan.
 
Cornell (3-5) netted all three of its goals in the second half – two coming from freshman Elise Hermiston – and pulled away from the Tigers (2-5) for its third home win of the season.
 
The Rams quickly erased a 1-0 halftime deficit when Hermiston found the back of the net only 55 seconds into the second half.
 
Senior Georgia James put the Rams ahead to stay at 2-1 with an unassisted goal in the 60th minute.
 
Hermiston's penalty kick gave the Rams an insurance goal at the 75-minute mark. It was her third score of the season, tops on the team.  
 
Cornell controlled the match with a 20-5 advantage in shots. Iowa Wesleyan's goal in the 21st minute was its only shot attempt in the first half.
 
Sam O'Brien fired a team-high four shots for the Rams. Hermiston and Sanne Croes added three attempts apiece.
 
Goalkeeper Elise Thomason-Larsen earned the victory, allowing the one goal over 77 minutes. Heaven Walker and Eva Todd both saw time in goal late in the match, helping preserve the win.
 
The Rams return to their familiar home turf Friday for a 5 p.m. contest with Maranatha Baptist (1-2-1).