Game Notes (PDF)

ITHACA, N.Y. – The Cornell women's lacrosse team will travel to Binghamton on March 12 to take on the Bearcats at 4 p.m. The Big Red (3-1, 1-1 Ivy) looks to stay undefeated and improve to 3-0 overall against the Bearcats (4-1, 0-0 America East).

ABOUT THE BIG RED
Sophomore midfielder Emily Tripodi is currently second in the Ivy League and 13th in the nation for assists per game with 2.75. Junior attack Sarah Hefner is currently second in the Ivy League and sixth in the nation for draw controls (6.50 per game). Sophomore attack Lindsay Toppe is currently first in the Ivy League and 11th in the nation for goals per game (3.75).

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 153-100 record at Cornell and earned her 160th career win against Binghamton late last season.
                      
ABOUT BINGHAMTON
The Bearcats, based in nearby Binghamton, are 4-1 on the season. The team is 31st in the nation in draw controls at 13.40 per game. Leading the way on offense is Brianne Arthur with 18 goals and two assists. Angela Vespa is close behind with 11 goals and five assists for 16 points. In net, Erin McNulty is seeing most of the team's action. She has a 7.04 goals against average and a .508 save percentage.

THE SERIES WITH BINGHAMTON
Cornell and Binghamton have met just twice in the teams' history. The last meeting came last season at Schoellkopf, a contest that the Big Red won, 17-11. In that game, eight different players found the back of the net, with Lindsay Toppe leading the team with six goals and Caroline Salisbury '13 scoring four. Cornell had a 22-14 advantage in ground balls plus a 34-18 edge in total shots taken.

LAST TIME OUT
Cornell extended its perfect record against Columbia to 18 games with a 13-6 victory last Saturday. Seven Big Red players found the back of the net, with Lindsay Toppe scoring four goals, Amanda D'Amico with three and Catherine Ellis with two. Goaltenders Renee Poullott and Carly Gniewek split time in the crease, with Poullott ending the day with two saves and Gniewek had four. Cornell outshot Columbia 26-16 and went 12-for-22 on draws.

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 295th program win on March 8 against Columbia with a 13-6 victory 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 9 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 has 54 goals, is three ground balls from 40, and four points away from 65.
*Sarah Hefner is one goal short of 30, one ground ball short of 50, and has 78 draw controls.
*Claire MacManus is three ground balls away from 45.
*Rachel Moody has 25 goals and 41 points.
*Chelsea Rowe has 29 draw controls.
*Cat Thomas is three ground balls away from 30.
*Lindsay Toppe is two goals away from 75 and has 95 points. She is tied for fifth in the all-time rankings for game-winning goals (6).
*Emily Tripodi has three assists away from 50 and currently has 61 points. She is eighth in the all-time rankings for assists (47).

UP NEXT
Cornell will travel to Albany on March 16 for a matchup against the Great Danes, starting at 2 p.m.