ITHACA, N.Y. -- In goal, the Big Red will have three options, all intriguing, but senior Kristen Reese seems entrenched in the starting position. When healthy, Reese is one of the top shot-stoppers in the Ancient Eight.



In her second year as the team's primary starter, Reese posted a 9-7 record with a 9.30 goals against average and a .458 save percentage, all career bests. Her saves, caused turnovers and ground ball totals also were the best of her career. Reese ranks in the top 10 all-time at Cornell in saves per game, wins, goals against average and save percentage. Her ability and poise in the clearing game and her experience in goal gives her the clear advantage among the three talented players at the position.

Reese has outstanding reaction time and has played her best lacrosse in the biggest games. She has twice earned Ivy League Defensive Player of the Week accolades and was named the womenslacrosse.com national defensive plater of the week after posting a 6.00 GAA, a .647 save percentage and adding seven ground balls and three caused turnovers total in road wins at New Hampshire and Brown. She also had 13 saves and a career-best five ground balls against Notre Dame. Her first collegiate win as a sophomore was an 11-save performance to knock off nationally ranked Dartmouth.

Battling Reese for time in the cage are sophomore Kyla Dambach and freshman Courtney Gallagher. Dambach earned some time off the bench as a freshman and played well. The lefthander played 92 minutes in the cage in 2009, recording an 8.45 goals against average and a .480 save percentage. Gallagher adds is a prototypical backstop, capable of making the big save. Both will challenge for time in the cage and will position themselves to take over as the starter in 2011, if not sooner.