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ITHACA, N.Y. – The Cornell women's lacrosse team will take on Columbia at Schoellkopf Field on Saturday, March 8 at 3 p.m. The Big Red (2-1, 0-1 Ivy) looks to stay undefeated and improve to 18-0 overall against the Lions (1-1, 0-1).

ABOUT THE BIG RED
Sophomore midfielder Emily Tripodi is currently second in the Ivy League and seventh in the nation for assists per game with three. Junior attack Sarah Hefner is currently second in the Ivy League and sixth in the nation for draw controls (7.5 per game). Sophomore attack Lindsay Toppe is currently third in the Ivy League and 22nd in the nation for goals per game (3.5).

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 152-100 record at Cornell and earned her 160th career win against Binghamton late last season.
                      
ABOUT COLUMBIA
The Lions, based in New York, hold a 1-1 record on the year thanks to a season-opening win against LIU Brooklyn and a loss to Brown last Saturday. The Lions are averaging 13 goals per game and allowing 10. Leading Columbia on offense is Paige Cuscovitch, who has six goals Nancy Quinn also has five goals. In net, Colleen Packer has an 10.00 goals-against average and a .355 save percentage.

The Lions are coached by Liz Kittleman Jackson, now in her fourth year leading Columbia.

THE SERIES WITH COLUMBIA
The Big Red and Lions have met 17 times in history, and the Big Red has won all 17 of those games in easily the most lopsided series in program history. In every meeting since 1997, Cornell has claimed victory by as many as 14 goals and as few as two. Cornell won 14-7 last year, with eight different players finding the back of the net.

LAST TIME OUT
Cornell battled the weather on the road, but came home with a 15-7 victory over Colgate. Eight different players scored for the Big Red, with Lindsay Toppe leading the charge with four goals and four assists. Emily Tripodi ended the day with three goals and four assists. Claire MacManus, Amie Dickson and Chelsea Rowe scored two apiece, and Amanda D'Amico and Sarah Hefner both had one. Cornell dominated on draw controls, winning 16-of-24 and outshooting the Raiders in the first half, 15-12. Freshman goaltender Renee Poullott had ten 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 294th program win on March 5 against Colgate 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 51 goals and is two points away from 60.
*Sarah Hefner is one goal short of 30, three ground balls short of 50, and needs to win one more draw control to get to 70.
*Claire MacManus is four ground balls away from 45.
*Rachel Moody is one goal away from 25 and has 37 points.
*Chelsea Rowe has 27 draw controls.
*Cat Thomas is four ground balls away from 30.
*Lindsay Toppe is one goal away from 70 and has 90 points. She is tied for fifth in the all-time rankings for game-winning goals (6).
*Emily Tripodi has four assists away from 50 and currently has 60 points. She is eighth in the all-time rankings for assists (46).

UP NEXT
Cornell will travel to Binghamton on March 12 for a midweek contest against the Bearcats, starting at 4 p.m.