ITHACA, N.Y. -- Playing one of the region's top clubs in Garrison Forrest. the Cornell women's polo team couldn't hold on to an early lead and dropped a 14-12 decision on Friday evening at Oxley Equestrian Center. The Big Red fell to 6-4 with the loss.

In a good test of where the Big Red stands, Amanda Stern, Ali Hoffman and Kailey Eldredge took on a very experienced Garrison Forrest team. Cornell started off well by gritting out a 4-1 lead in an up and down the arena first chukker with Eldredge leading the way with three goals. Garrison came back strong in the second and pulled into a tie at 6-6 heading onto the half. The third chukker was another physical battle that Garrison won to take an 11-9 lead heading into the fourth. Garrison scored first and then the Big Red answered with two goals to pull within one. Much like the Cornell men the week before, the women's team had its chances to score but could not find the tying goal. Garrison would add a goal to pull back out to a 14-12 lead with over two minutes left and neither team would score from that point on. Hoffman led the team with six goals, Eldredge had five and Stern notched one. It was a good tough match early in the semester that showed the Big Red exactly what they need to work on the rest of the way.