ITHACA, N.Y. -- The Cornell men's polo team advanced to the finals of the William S. Field Invitational tournament on Sunday afternoon before a furious rally fell short to defending national champion Virginia 19-18 at Oxley Equestrian Center.

The Red fell behind in the first chukker, getting down 5-0 before pulling back to be behind just 6-5 after one. In the second, Cornell fell further down and went into the half on the south end of an 11-7 score. The third saw Virginia extend its lead to 18-11, but the Cornell rally began at the start of the fourth. The Big Red got within a goal and just missed the tying score as the clock ran out. Nik Feldman lead the team with 13 goals, including seven in the fourth, while Ignacio Masias Uranga had three goals and Nick Stieg scored two.

On Saturday night with a berth to the finals on the line, Cornell knocked off Colorado State 22-21.  Cornell dug themselves an early hole and then had to dig out. Behind 9-4 after one, the Big Red closed to within two in the second to go into the half down 13-11. Cornell continued the comeback path in the third and tied the score at 16-16 heading into the fourth. The teams traded blows in the fourth and it looked dismal for the Big Red with 1:20 to play and down by two, 21-19.  Cornell did not give up though and tallied the tying goal with 19 seconds to play. In the shootout, Feldman scored and Stieg never had to shoot as CSU did not convert any shots sending the home team to the finals. Feldman tallied 13 goals, Stieg had five and Masias was credited with two with one pony goal.

The men won their first match of the tournament by beating Kentucky 26-12. In an exciting match where Cornell led 5-4 after one, the Wildcats rallied to take an 8-7 lead with 2:50 left in the second when the crowd watched the Big Red drop five quick goals on the Wildcats for a 12-8 Cornell lead at the half. The Big Red blew the doors open in the third by taking the chukker 7-1, opening up a 19-9 lead heading into the fourth. The home team cruised home with the 26-12 win. Stieg and Masias each tallied eight goals, while Feldman and the penalty goals each added five.