Box Score Box Score

ITHACA, N.Y. – The Big Red field hockey dominated the game from start to finish as it defeated Lehigh, 3-1, this afternoon on Marsha Dodson Field in Ithaca, N.Y. Cornell controlled the play throughout the contest, but the Mountain Hawks kept it close thanks to the outstanding play of goalie Jessica Miller, who turned away 18 shots to keep the visitors in the contest. The 18 saves are the fifth-highest single-game total in the NCAA this season and the second most ever recorded on Marsha Dodson Field.

For the fourth straight game, Cornell saw a well-balanced score sheet with no single player recording more than one point. The Big Red received three goals in a span of 10 minutes midway through the second half from Mallory Bannon, Hannah Balleza and Catie De Stio, while Kat DiPastina chipped in an assist.

Junior goalie Alex Botte made four saves to pick up the win.

Cornell took 36 shots, putting 22 on goal, while the Mountain Hawks took just six shots, but put five on cage. The Big Red also held a commanding edge in penalty corners, 14-5.

“I was pleased with the number of offensive opportunities we created in the first half,” said head coach Donna Hornibrook. “Their goalie played great and we weren't able to break through in that first half, but we kept our composure and that allowed us to be successful in the second half. I also thought our defense played really well in limiting Lehigh's scoring opportunities. It was just a total team effort today.”

The Big Red got off to a quick start, but saw shot after shot turned away by Miller, who finished the first half with 10 saves to send the teams into the intermission tied at 0-0.

Cornell continued to be frustrated in the early moments of the second half before a breakaway opportunity led to the home team's first goal in the 47th minute. Freshman Christine Hibler received a pass on the sideline deep in Big Red territory but managed to beat her defender and raced up the field. Hibler centered the ball into the circle, where it was batted around in front of the cage before DiPastina's shot was tipped into the net by Bannon.

Just under six minutes later, Cornell struck again when a DiPastina shot was saved by Miller, but the ball squirted off the end of the goalie's stick and Balleza was there to collect the ball and lift it into the net to give the home team the 2-0 lead.

Catie De Stio gave the Big Red its final goal of the game with an impressive run that started in deep in Cornell territory. Stephanie Sanders intercepted a pass in the defensive end and sent a long pass upfield to Hibler, who in turn connected to De Stio behind the Lehigh defense. Miller charged out of her net to cut down the angle, but De Stio pulled back, angled around the goalie and then ripped a hard shot to the far post of an open cage.

Lehigh (2-11) registered its lone goal on a penalty corner, as Madison Ingal scored off a direct shot in the 58th minute to account for the 3-1 final. Assists were credited to Abby Tilton and Katey Fardelmann.

The Big Red returns to Ivy League play next weekend as it travels to Harvard on Saturday, Oct. 16 to take on the Crimson at Jordan Field at 2 p.m.