ITHACA, N.Y. -- With an eye on postseason play, the Cornell men's polo team closed out the regular season with an 18-14 win over Country Farms Polo Club on Friday evening at Oxley Equestrian Center. The Big Red improved to 11-5 entering the USPA Northeast Regional championships.

With the team's starting lineup of Nik Feldman, Nick Stieg and Ignacio Masias intact for just the third time this year, it was a back and forth first chukker. Cornell took the lead in the final seconds with a spectacular out-of-the-air shot by Feldman to end the first up 4-3. The visitors tied it at 4-4 and then Masias scored a two-pointer to answer. Cornell closed out the first half leading 9-5. Country Farms was far from done as they opened the third with five straight to take the lead at 10-9. The Big Red finally scored to tie it at 10-10, then Stieg hit a near side back shot 2/3 of the arena for another Cornell two-pointer to again jump the home team back into the lead. Cornell would end the third chukker up 13-11. Cornell opened up to a four-goal lead early on in the fourth and saw Country Farms answer back to make it 15-13. Cornell would add a couple more goals and ended up winning the game 18-14 .  Feldman tallied seven goals, Stieg had six and Masias notched five for the Big Red.