CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The Cornell women's polo team passed its first test of the 2012-13 season, rallying in the final minute to send the game into a shootout, then outlasting defending national champ Virginia in the third round to claim a 13-12 win on Friday evening. The Big Red improved to 2-0 on the season with the victory.

Ali Hoffman, Kailey Eldredge and Anna Winslow started for the Big Red on a cool night in Charlottesville. Cornell drew first blood, but the Cavaliers came back to take a 2-1 lead. Cornell answered back and ended the first chukker ahead 3-2. The game continued to go back and forth in the second finding the Big Red still ahead at the half 5-4. Devin Cox replaced Ali Hoffman for the second half and Virginia quickly tied things up, but Cornell responded and took a 9-7 lead heading to the fourth.

The Cavaliers fought their way back and took a late 12-11 lead before Cornell tied it up at 12-12 with 40 seconds left in the contest. The two teams remained tied after two rounds of the shootout. It came down to the last Virginia player, who missed the target to give the Big Red the 13-12 win. Eldredge led the Big Red with nine goals while Cox had two and Winslow scored once. Eldredge was 3-for-3 in the shootout, with Winslow and Cox each tallying once.