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Box Score

ITHACA, N.Y. – The Big Red field hockey team fought back from a 1-0 halftime deficit to defeat Lock Haven, 3-2, in a wild game this afternoon on Marsha Dodson Field. With the victory, Cornell's fourth straight in home openers on Dodson Field, it improves to 2-0 on the season.

The Big Red controlled the flow of play for much of the game, but the Lady Eagles held the advantage in every offensive statistical category, registering more shots (12-8), shots on goal (9-5) and penalty corners (10-5). Cornell, however, held the edge in the all-important saves category, with sophomore Carolyn Horner, in just her second career start, making seven stops to earn the victory. LHU's Lindsay Staufenberg made just two saves in 56:58 of action before giving way to Kelsey Moll, who did not face a shot on goal.

“We knew Lock Haven would be an aggressive and hard-working team and I think we had trouble meeting their intensity in the first half of play,” said head coach Donna Hornibrook. “We were able to settle down, gain some composure, and play our game in the second half and I'm pleased with our effort and the result.”

LHU jumped out to the early 1-0 lead just over four minutes into the contest when Najia Hasan converted a cross pass from Leslie Ahern. The Big Red worked the ball and held possession for much of the half, but could not generate any real scoring opportunities and the home team went into the intermission trailing.

Cornell wasted little time getting on the board in the second half, scoring in the 37th minute, as sophomore Brittany Thompson muscled her way past the Eagles defense and sent a shot towards cage that was tipped into the back of the net by sophomore Hannah Balleza.

Balleza had a hand in the Big Red's next goal as well, as she sent a ball in front of the cage that sophomore Kat DiPastina managed to get a stick on, putting Cornell up, 2-1, in the 50th minute. Just under five minutes later, the Big Red scored its third unanswered goal when junior Genna Collins' penalty corner shot was saved, but Staufenberg couldn't control the rebound and Mallory Bannon was there to blast the ball home.

LHU (1-2) didn't give up, however, scoring a goal less than three minutes later to close the gap to 3-2, as Ahern drove down the right side of the field, sent a cross through the middle of the Big Red defense and Kristi Shepps slipped it past Horner.

The final 13 minutes were an intense back-and-forth battle, but Cornell handled the pressure and came away with the victory.

The Big Red plays a pair of games next weekend in the Sheraton Catamount Classic, held in Burlington, Vt. Cornell opens the weekend by facing the host, Vermont, on Saturday, Sept. 10 at 2 p.m., before taking on Maine on Sunday, Sept. 11 at noon.