CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. -- The Cornell men's polo team headed to defending national champion Virginia for its first big test and got plenty to learn from in a 19-8 loss on Friday evening. Cornell fell to 3-1 with the defeat.

Connor Pardell started with Max Constant and Branden Van Loon earned the start for the Big Red. The defending champs came out gunning and put four on the board before the Big Red broke through. The first chukker ended with Cornell down 6-1.

Cornell adjusted to the speed of the game and stayed even with the Cavaliers until a clearing shot at the end of the chukker put the Cavaliers up 10-3 at the half. Dan Grew replaced Pardell in the third and Cornell continued to play well for the first half of the chukker before the Big Red beat themselves by missing balls. The defending champs took full advantage and increased their lead to 17-6 heading into the fourth. Cornell got its game back in the final stanza  and tied the champs in the chukker to end the game on the losing end.

Constant led the way with four goals, while Grew notched two, Van Loon had one and the Big Red was also awarded a penalty goal.

The Big Red will attempt to start a new win streak when it visits Harvard on Saturday, Nov. 7 at 2 p.m. in Cambridge, Mass.