Live Stats | Video | Game Notes (PDF)

ITHACA, N.Y. – The Cornell women's lacrosse team will take on Harvard at Soldier's Field Lacrosse Stadium on Saturday, March 1 for a 1 p.m. contest. The Big Red (1-0, 0-0 Ivy) will look to win its first Ivy League game of the season against the Crimson (1-1, 0-0 Ivy).

ABOUT THE BIG RED
Cornell defeated Temple last Sunday, 17-9, in its home opener at Schoellkopf Field. Senior Rachel Moody wasted no time breaking open the offense, scoring five goals, including three during the Big Red's decisive 11-0 run. Junior Lindsay Toppe and freshman Catherine Ellis each had four goals while sophomore Emily Tripodi contributed five assists. The Big Red dominated during the first half, having won 12-of-16 draw controls and outshot the Owls, 20-7.

HEAD COACH JENNY GRAAP
Jenny Graap returned to her alma mater in 1997 with one goal in mind: to build the Cornell women's lacrosse team into a championship contender. Now in her 17th year at the helm, the 2002 Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association Coach of the Year and 2006 Inside Lacrosse Magazine and IWLCA Northeast Coach of the Year has developed the Big Red women's lacrosse program into one of the most successful in the nation. She has posted a 151-99 record at Cornell and earned her 160th career win against Binghamton late last season.
                      
ABOUT HARVARD
The Crimson, based in Cambridge, Mass., have a 1-1 record this year as it split a pair of games last weekend, falling to Stanford 14-10 in its season opener last Saturday before beating St. Mary's (Calif.) 18-7 the following day. The Crimson is led on offense by a pair of freshmen with Marisa Romeo scoring seven goals and two assists and reigning Ivy League player of the week Megan Hennessey tallying six goals and three assists, giving them each nine points on the season. Sophomore Alexis Nicolia has contributed five goals. On the defensive side, goalie Kelly Weis has eight ground balls while 13 different players caused at least one turnover. In goal, Weis has played all 120 minutes and has posted a .432 save percentage and a 10.53 goals-against average.

Harvard is coached by Lisa Miller, now in her seventh year with the team.

THE SERIES WITH HARVARD
The Big Red and Crimson are long-time rivals, having played 34 times over the years. Harvard holds a dominant edge in the all-time series, doubling Cornell's win total, but the Big Red claimed two in a row, including last year's contest by a 17-12 score. 

LAST TIME OUT
In its season opener last Sunday, the Big Red put on a dominating performance against Temple, coming away with a 17-9 victory. Six different players scored during an 11-0 run in the first half, beginning with Lindsay Toppe's goal from Sarah Hefner at 15:38. Toppe ended the day with four goals, while teammates Rachel Moody had five and Catherine Ellis also had four. Hefner was dominant on draw controls, winning eight. Goaltenders Renee Poullott and Carly Gniewek split time in the crease, combining for nine saves.

HOME SWEET HOME
Last season brought success at home, as the Big Red held an almost-perfect 6-1 record in home games. The only loss came on a 12-10 decision against Princeton, who eventually went on to the NCAA Tournament. The Big Red has posted a 20-15 home record during the past five seasons, making 2013 its most successful season at Schoellkopf since 2006 when Cornell was a perfect 7-0 at home.

THE HUNT FOR 300
Cornell picked up its 293rd program win on February 23 against Temple and will look to hit the 300-win milestone this season.

2014 CAPTAINS
The Big Red will be represented by three captains this season: senior midfielder Amanda D'Amico, senior midfielder Chelsea Rowe, and junior attacker Lindsay Toppe.

BACK ON THE FIELD
The Big Red has five returning seniors this year: attacker Rachel Moody, midfielder Jessie Smith, midfielder Amanda D'Amico, midfielder Chelsea Rowe, and defender Cat Thomas. The current seniors are returning 26 percent of the goals scored from last season and 23 percent of the total points scored by the Big Red.

FRESH PERSPECTIVE
A large incoming class of 11 freshmen joins the Cornell roster this season. On the attacking side, Catherine Ellis, Christie Powell, and Meredith Baker are new. The freshman midfielders are Mandy Powell, Amie Dickson, Kristy Gilbert, Catie Smith, and Kailey O'Hagan. Rounding out the freshman class is goalkeeper Renee Poullott.

CAREER NUMBERS WATCH
*Amanda D'Amico is two goals away from 50 and five points away from 60.
*Sarah Hefner is four goals short of 30 and three ground balls short of 50.
*Claire MacManus is three ground balls away from 40.
*Rachel Moody is one goal away from 25 and one point away from 35.
*Chelsea Rowe is two draw controls away from 25.
*Cat Thomas is one ground ball away from 25.
*Lindsay Toppe is three goals away from 63 and two points away from 80 and is tied for fifth in the all-time rankings for game-winning goals (6).
*Emily Tripodi is four assists away from 45 and three points away from 50 and is tied for eighth in the all-time rankings for assists (41).

UP NEXT
Cornell hits the road next week as it takes on Colgate in Hamilton on March 5 at 4 p.m.