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ITHACA, N.Y. – Despite the snow and wind, the Cornell women's lacrosse team put up a hard fight against No. 1 Syracuse Tuesday night, but ultimately dropped a tough game, 7-5. Lindsay Toppe had a hat trick for the Big Red (6-7, 2-2 Ivy) but it wasn't enough to keep the top team in the nation at bay as the Orange improve to 14-1 overall (5-1 ACC).

It took 11:08 into the first half for either team to find the back of the net, but Syracuse's Kayla Treanor put the first tally on the board, unassisted, for her 52nd goal of the season. Gabby Jaquith then finished a pass from Katie Webster at 15:13 and Treanor found her second of the game just 45 seconds later. Then, with four minutes left to play in the half, Alyssa Murray buried another Webster pass to give the Orange a 4-0 lead at the half.

Toppe got the ball rolling for the Big Red, capitalizing on two free-position shots then getting help from Emily Tripodi to bring Cornell within one with 15:25 left to play. Treanor scored unassisted for 2:05 later to extend the Orange's lead to 5-3, but Rachel Moody brought the Big Red within one again, getting help from freshman attack Catherine Ellis.
Following a yellow card being issued to Ellis for a hit to the head, Murray took advantage of the man-up situation and finished a pass from Webster to put Syracuse up 6-4.

Tripodi then assisted Moody for the Big Red's fifth goal, again bringing Cornell within one with 6:22 left to play, but Webster slipped one by Big Red goalkeeper Carly Gniewek to give 'Cuse the final 7-5 advantage.

Draws were a big factor for the Orange keeping possession, having won 11-of-14, and Kailah Kempney winning seven herself. Syracuse outshot Cornell 19-16, but the Big Red held the advantage in ground balls, 21-16.

Toppe led the Big Red offense with three goals and Moody had two. Gniewek finished the day with seven saves.

For Syracuse, Webster led the team with one goal and three assists while Treanor had a hat trick. Murray had two goals and Jaquith chipped in one goal. Alyssa Costantino had four saves in the crease for the Orange.

The Big Red will return to action Saturday at Schoellkopf Field when it plays host to Yale at 3 p.m.