Box Score ITHACA, N.Y. – The Big Red field hockey team overcame an early deficit and then made the most of its chances down the stretch to earn a hard-fought 3-2 victory over Columbia this afternoon on Marsha Dodson Field. With the win, its first Ivy victory of the season, Cornell evened its record at 3-3 (1-1 Ivy), while the Lions fell to 3-4 overall (1-1 Ivy).

Columbia held the edge in shots (15-10) and had a significant advantage in penalty corners (9-2), holding the Big Red without a penalty corner in the first half of play (4-0). Cornell was kept in the contest by the solid play of sophomore goalie Elizabeth Schaeffler, who made nine save in her first-ever conference start. The Lions' Kimberly Pianucci made four saves, while Claire Kneizys added a defensive save.

Columbia took an early 1-0 lead when Lauren Skudalski hit a reverse stick shot off a penalty corner that Zoe Blake tipped into the net from the near post.

Just over five minutes later, Cornell got the equalizer when Ann DiPatsina collected a ball on the sideline, fought off a defender and sent the ball upfield to Katy Weeks, who took the pass and drove to goal with a defender on her hip. Weeks turned to center and beat Pianucci to the far post.

The Big Red had an opportunity to tie the score moments later when Georgia Lord found herself in a one-on-one with the goalie, but Pianucci was up to the task to keep the deadlock.

With time winding down in the half, and Cornell playing a man-down due to a yellow card, Taylor Standiford put the home team on top when she utilized a quick restart off a foul, drove to just inside the top of the circle and blasted a shot that Pianucci got a stick on, but couldn't stop, making it 2-1 at halftime.

Just over 10 minutes into the second half, Hannah Balleza put Cornell up, 3-1, when she collected the ball near the restraining line, dribbled to the top of the circle and sent a reverse stick shot into the goal. 

The Lions turned up the pressure in the waning moments of the game and managed to pull within one-goal when Katie Ruesterholz snuck behind the Cornell defense and got a shot on goal. Schaeffler made the save but the ball wasn't cleared out of the circle and another Columbia shot ricocheted off a Big Red defender back to Ruesterhoz's stick and she put the ball into a wide open net.

Cornell is back in action tomorrow when it plays host to Drexel on Sunday, Sept. 29 at noon.