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ITHACA, N.Y. – The Cornell women's lacrosse team travel to Albany on March 16 to take on the Great Danes at 2 p.m. The Big Red (4-1, 1-1 Ivy) looks to stay undefeated and improve to 2-0 overall against Albany (4-0, 0-0 America East).

ABOUT THE BIG RED
Sophomore midfielder Emily Tripodi is currently second in the Ivy League and 21st in the nation for assists with 11, and 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 154-100 record at Cornell and earned her 160th career win against Binghamton late last season.   

ABOUT ALBANY
The Great Danes, based in Albany, hold a 4-0 record this season and have out shot opponents 65-28. Albany averages 16.25 goals per game and allows just 6.36 and should be tough test for Cornell. The Great Danes have five players with double-digit points on the year including Rachael Bowles' 17 goals and nine assists and Dakotah Savitcheff's 11 goals and one assist. In net, Anna Berman has seen most of the playing time, holding a 6.35 goals against average and a .444 save percentage.

THE SERIES WITH ALBANY
Despite being three hours apart, the Big Red and Great Danes only met once in a women's lacrosse game. Last season the two teams met in Baltimore, Md., where Cornell escaped with a 15-13 victory. Lindsay Toppe and Rachel Moody had four goals each that game.

LAST TIME OUT
Cornell extended its perfect record against Binghamton to 3 games with a 15-4 victory last Tuesday. Seven Big Red players found the back of the net, with Lindsay Toppe scoring four goals, Rachel Moody with three and Amanda D'Amico, Sarah Hefner and Catherine Ellis with two. Chelsea Rowe and Kailey O'Hagan also scored for the Big Red. Goaltenders Renee Poullott and Carly Gniewek split time in the crease, with both having three saves. Cornell outshot Binghamton 31-19 and went 15-for-21 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 296th program win on March 11 at Binghamton with a 15-4 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 56 goals, 40 ground balls, and is one point away from 65.
*Sarah Hefner is has 31 goals, 50 ground balls, and has 79 draw controls.
*Claire MacManus is two ground balls away from 45.
*Rachel Moody is two goals away from 30 and has 45 points.
*Chelsea Rowe has 29 draw controls.
*Cat Thomas is three ground balls away from 30.
*Lindsay Toppe is three goals away from 80 and has 99 points. She is tied for fifth in the all-time rankings for game-winning goals (6).
*Emily Tripodi has 50 assists and 64 points. She is seventh in the all-time rankings for assists (50).

UP NEXT
Cornell will play host to Rutgers at 1 p.m. on March 22 at Schoellkopf Field.