ITHACA, N.Y. -- The Cornell women's polo team couldn't avenge its only regular season loss, falling to Kentucky 18-12 in the national semifinals on Wednesday afternoon at the University of Virginia, ending its season with a 16-2 overall record.

Cornell (Jess Cross, Lizzie Wisner and Erin Bold) was ranked No. 1 and had received a bye to the semis.  Because of a rule that recommends Regional opponents not play each other, Kentucky was ranked #5 after they lost to UVa in their Regional final after a shootout and got a quarterfinal warmup. Everybody felt they were actually No. 3 right behind Virginia.  

The fast-paced game started out with the Big Red getting up 2-0. Kentucky came back to tie it at 2-2 and the chukker ended up tied at 4-4.  Cornell came out in the second and fought hard to gain a two-goal lead going into the half at 8-6.

The Wildcats were not done as they fought back and tied the game late in the third chukker at 10 with a two-point penalty shot. Cornell fought back to lead at 11-10, but Kentucky picked up the tying goal on a penalty to head into the fourth all even at 11-11. The fourth chukker started off going up and down the arena with chances for both teams, but no scores. Then the momentum shifter happened. The Wildcats committed a penalty No. 4. Wisner lined it up and stroked a strong shot that the Cornell team all thought scored. It was not called a goal, seconds later play stopped with a foul on Cornell and the play was discussed by the umpires and goal judge. No goal was the call. On this sweltering hot day with exhaustion was so close, momentum was a huge key. This play appeared to breathe life into the Wildcats and suck it out of the Big Red. Things kind of fell apart for Cornell after this critical call, as Kentucky went on a seven-goal run that Cornell just couldn't stop. The Big Red would managed a goal in the final minute to bring the final score to 18-12 in favor of the Wildcats. Once again in 2010, Kentucky spoiled the party for Cornell.