Box Score

ITHACA, N.Y. – No. 13 Cornell and No. 2 Syracuse played an even second half, but it was the visiting Orange's 10-goal first half that proved to be the difference in a 16-9 Big Red defeat at Schoellkopf Field on Tuesday night.

Syracuse started the game with two straight goals and then followed with a 7-0 run that put Cornell down 9-1 with a mere 22 minutes elapsed.

From that point on, the Big Red actually outscored Syracuse 8-7, but by then the team had dug itself a hole so deep that a hat trick from Caroline Salisbury and excellent relief goaltending from freshman Carly Gniewek could not help it recover.

Cornell (8-4) is now 3-3 this season against ranked opposition, while Syracuse (11-2) leaves Ithaca with its sixth consecutive victory over the Big Red.

The Big Red scored a season-low three first-half goals – all off the stick of Salisbury – but it netted two of them just before the halftime break. Right after halftime, Cornell completed a four-goal sandwich with two scores in the second half's first four minutes by Katie Kirk and Kelly Lang.

Those goals made it 11-5 in favor of the visitors, and Cornell had hope. Helping the cause was Gniewek, who came in to replace starter Kyla Dambach with two minutes remaining in the first half. Gneiwek was terrific against the nation's second-ranked team, doubling her career high with six saves and nearly doubling her career total, which now sits at 13. Gniewek had played a mere 39:48 all season, and she nearly doubled that total as well.

With Gneiwek saving many of the shots that came her way, the Big Red got goals from Olivia Knotts, defender and captain Cacki Helmer – just her second of the year and third of her career – Shannon McHugh and one more from Kirk.

But in the end, Syracuse's lead was just too large. Alyssa Murray went from 40 goals on the season to 44, Katie Webster had a hat trick and Kailah Kempney scored three goals as well. The Orange defense was stellar for much of the night as well, as it held senior attack Jessi Steinberg goalless for the first time since April 30, 2010 against Dartmouth.

The Big Red outdrew the Orange 7-6 in the second half – Salisbury had a career-high five draw controls on the night – and  also caused turned the ball over just three times in the second half to Syracuse's 11.

Cornell's home season concludes with a visit from Yale on Saturday at noon. Senior Day festivities will be held before the first draw at noon.