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ITHACA, N.Y. – The Cornell women's lacrosse team will play host to Rutgers on March 22 at 1 p.m. The Big Red (4-2, 1-1 Ivy) looks to continue its winning ways against the Scarlet Knights (4-4, 0-0 Big East).

ABOUT THE BIG RED
Sophomore midfielder Emily Tripodi is currently first in the Ivy League and 14th in the nation for assists with 16, and first in the Ivy League and 9th in the nation for assists per game with 2.67. Sophomore attack Lindsay Toppe is currently first in the Ivy League and 31st in the nation for goals with 21, and first in the Ivy League and 10th in the nation for goals per game (3.50). She also leads the Ivy League in points (27) and points per game (4.50), good for 42nd and 17th in the nation respectively.

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 154-101 record at Cornell and earned her 160th career win against Binghamton late last season.   

ABOUT RUTGERS
The Scarlet Knights, out of Piscataway, N.J., is 4-4 so far this year. Rutgers last played March 15 and defeated James Madison, 8-7. In that game, three players had two goals and goaltender Amanda Currell had 11 saves. The Scarlet Knights are led by junior Lauren Sbrilli in scoring, with seven goals and one assist. Freshman goalie Currell has played the majority of minutes this season, allowing 8.681 and boasting a .542 save percentage, good for first in the Big East and fifth in the nation.
Rutgers is coached by Laura Brand-Sias, now in her 12th season of leading her alma mater.

THE SERIES WITH RUTGERS
Cornell and Rutgers last met in 2012 with the Big Red claiming an 8-7 victory in its season-opener over the Scarlet Knights. Olivia Knotts led Cornell with three goals in that game and the team's other goals came from Jessi Steinberg, Shannon McHugh and Amanda D'Amico. Historically, Cornell has a 13-3 series advantage over Rutgers and won the teams' first 10 meetings. Cornell holds a 3-2 edge in the last five meetings, winning in 2012, 2009 and 2008.

LAST TIME OUT
Cornell dropped to 4-2 on the season with a 17-10 loss at Albany on March 16. Rachel Moody, Lindsay Toppe and Catherine Ellis each had two goals for the Big Red. Goals also came from Emily Tripodi, Amanda D'Amico, Sarah Hefner and Amie Dickson. Renee Poullott and Carly Gniewek split time in the crease, with Poullot recording two saves and Gniewek recording five. Cornell was outshot 31-24, but won 11-of-21 ground balls against the Great Danes.

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.

100-POINT CLUB
Junior attack Lindsay Toppe reached the 100-point mark with two goals against Albany on March 16. She is the currently the only member of the Big Red women's lacrosse team this season with over 100 career points (79-22—101).

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 57 goals, 41 ground balls, and has 65 points.
*Sarah Hefner is has 32 goals, 53 ground balls, and has 81 draw controls.
*Claire MacManus is two ground balls away from 45.
*Rachel Moody has 30 goals and has 48 points.
*Chelsea Rowe has 30 draw controls.
*Cat Thomas is two ground balls away from 30.
*Lindsay Toppe is one goal away from 80 and has 101 points. She is tied for fifth in the all-time rankings for game-winning goals (6).
*Emily Tripodi has 52 assists and 67 points. She is seventh in the all-time rankings for assists (52).

UP NEXT
Cornell will play host to No. 12/15 Stanford at 4 p.m. on March 25 at Schoellkopf Field.