ITHACA, N.Y. -- The Cornell women's polo team tuned up for nationals with a 13-10 win at fellow qualifier Texas A&M on Friday evening in College Station, Texas. The victory was the defending national champions' fourth straight and improved them to 12-5.

The two teams could only meet at nationals if they make it through their respective semifinal matches. Cornell had beaten the Aggies earlier this semester at Cornell. The first chukker went back and forth and ended in a 3-3 tie. The Aggies relaxed and found their groove in the second and outscored the Big Red 6-2 in the chukker to take a 9-5 lead into the half. Cornell controlled a great deal of the third, but still ended up down 10-6 heading into the fourth.

Cornell proceeded to mount a comeback that showed the strength they needed to win the Northeast Regional. Ali Hoffman and Kailey Eldredge did all the scoring as Amanda Stern provided key defensive shots to lead the Red on a 7-0 run to take Cornell to the 13-10 win. Eldredge scored seven goals and Hoffman had six for the Big Red. But make no mistake they could not have done it without Amanda's timely plays to set them up.

The Big Red opens nationals against Cal Poly in the national semifinals on Friday, April 20 at noon at Oxley Equestrian Center.