ITHACA, N.Y. – The Cornell University field hockey team opened Marsha Dodson Field in fine fashion this afternoon, defeating Penn in the Ivy League opener for both teams, 3-1. Senior
Belen Martinez tallied one goal and one assist to move into 10
th place all time in both career goals and career points, while
Abbi Horn registered an assist to move into 10
th place all time in career assists.
“This is a big win for us in many ways,” said head coach
Donna Hornibrook. “It was a privilege for our team to earn a win in our first game on Marsha Dodson Field in front of our alumni, friends and family. And it was also important to get our first Ivy League win. I think it was a real team effort today and it was great to see us stay composed at the end of the game, handle the Penn pressure, and register a late goal to seal the victory.”
Cornell (2-3, 1-0) got on the board just 3:34 into the contest when a shot by Martinez off a penalty corner was tipped into the goal by
Kate Thompson to make it a 1-0 contest.
Netminder
Melanie Jue was tested early by the Quakers and used a solid two-save sequence to preserve the Big Red's lead when she stopped a penalty corner shot and then made a pad save on the rebound attempt.
The Big Red extended its lead to 2-0 in the closing seconds of the first half when another penalty corner was awarded to the team. Martinez received the ball, carried it across the mouth of the net and then slotted it into the lower right hand corner of the goal.
Penn (1-6, 0-1) got on the board in the 57th minute when Abigail Egan collected her own rebound off a save by Jue and beat the junior goalkeeper down low to make it a 2-1 game.
The Quakers turned up the pressure for the remainder of the second half, but Cornell got a much-needed insurance goal with less than five minutes to play when
Katie Kirnan collected a loose ball and sent it upfield to
Abbi Horn, who was behind the Quaker defense. As Penn goalie Alanna Butera came out of goal to make a play, Horn passed the ball to
Catie De Stio, who stretched out and got a touch on the ball, sending it into the net.
Cornell outshot the Quakers, 14-9, but the teams were an even 6-6 on penalty corners.
Jue made four saves in goal to register the win, while Butera stopped 10 in the loss.
The Big Red is back in action tomorrow, Sunday, Sept. 21 as it plays host to Georgetown at 1 p.m.
