Boxscore

ITHACA, N.Y. – The Cornell field hockey team got off to a fast start in its first game of the season, scoring less than five minutes into the contest against Davidson and rolling to the 3-1 victory this afternoon. With the win, the Big Red improves to 22-12-4 all-time in season openers.

Senior Kelley Kantarian notched two goals for Cornell, while freshman Kat DiPastina registered her first collegiate goal. In cage, senior Mel Jue got the start, but didn't need to make a save in the first half of action. Sophomore Alex Botte came on in relief and made four saves, while allowing one goal in the final 35 minutes.

Davidson (2-2) got its lone goal from Ellie Szykowny and Christa Goeke made just three saves and allowed three goals in the lost.

The Big Red dominated the game in the first half. Offensively, Cornell scored all three of its goals in the first 35 minutes, while defensively the Big Red did not give up a corner and allowed Davidson to take just one shot.

Cornell finished the game with the significant advantage in shots (12-6) and penalty corners (6-1).

Kantarian got the Big Red on the board at the 4:58 mark and Cornell put the game out of reach with a pair of goals scored three minutes apart late in the opening half. The first goal came off the stick of De Stio, while Kantarian closed the scoring for the Big Red.

Davidson turned up the offensive pressure in the second half, putting all five of its shots in the final 35 minutes on cage. Szykowny's goal came early on, as she found the back of the net in the 41st minute, but the Wildcats could not score again.

Cornell (1-0) is back in action tomorrow, Sunday, Sept. 6, as it takes on Georgetown at American University at 2 p.m.