Live Stats | Video | Game Notes (PDF)

ITHACA, N.Y. – The Cornell women's lacrosse team will take on No. 10 Penn State in a nonconference match-up on Tuesday at 5 p.m. The Big Red (5-5, 2-2 Ivy) will look to even the all-time series to 2-2 against the Nittany Lions (7-5, 2-2 American Lacrosse Conference).

ABOUT THE BIG RED
Sophomore midfielder Emily Tripodi is currently third in the Ivy League and 22nd in the nation for assists with 20, and third in the Ivy League and 16th in the nation for assists per game with 2.00. Junior midfielder Sarah Hefner is currently third in the Ivy League and 17th in the nation for draw controls with 4.80 per game. Sophomore attack Lindsay Toppe is currently second in the Ivy League and 42nd in the nation for goals with 31, and second in the Ivy League and 17th in the nation for goals per game (3.10). She leads the Ivy League in points per game (4.00) and is third in the Ivy League in points (40), good for 27th and 58th 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 155-104 record at Cornell and earned her 160th career win against Binghamton late last season.    
 
ABOUT PENN STATE
The Nittany Lions, based in University Park, Pa., are a quality squad that is 7-5 on the season so far. Penn State has gone 5-2 in its last seven games, falling only to two top-5 teams in Florida and Northwestern last Sunday. The Nittany Lions average 13.75 goals per game and allow just 9.33 and are used to high-scoring affairs. The leader of the attack is Madison Cyr, who averages 2.25 points per game on 27 goals and six assists. Maggie McCormick is also a big scorer, picking up 31 points on 14 goals and 17 assists. In net, Emi Smith has a 9.09 goals-against average and a .447 save percentage.
 
THE SERIES WITH PENN STATE
The Big Red and Nittany Lions have only played five times in their history, with Penn State holding a 3-2 series lead. All three of those wins came in the 1970s as Penn State won by scores of 6-5, 21-1 and 20-2 in 1972, 1974 and 1975, respectively. The last meeting between the teams came last March when the Big Red came away with a 13-12 double-overtime victory on Shoellkopf Field.
 
LAST TIME OUT
Freshman attack Catherine Ellis had a stellar performance against Dartmouth last Saturday, scoring a career-high and game-high six goals in the Big Red's 11-10 double-overtime victory. Her breakout offense led her to be named this week's Ivy League player of the week. Rachel Moody added two goals and two assists and Lindsay Toppe chipped in two goals and one assist. Chelsea Rowe also scored for the Big Red. Freshman goalkeeper Renee Poullott had eight saves, with six coming in the first half.

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 297th program win on April 5 against Dartmouth with an 11-10 double-overtime 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 (89-25—114).

2014 CAPTAINS
The Big Red will be represented by three captains this season: senior midfielder Amanda D'Amico, senior midfielder Chelsea Rowe, and junior attack Lindsay Toppe.
 
BACK ON THE FIELD
The Big Red has five returning seniors this year: attack 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 nine 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 59 goals, 43 ground balls and 69 points.
*Sarah Hefner has 33 goals and 59 ground balls. She is currently tied for fifth in the all-time Cornell rankings for draw controls with 100.
*Claire MacManus has 47 ground balls.
*Rachel Moody has 37 goals and 57 points.
*Chelsea Rowe has 32 draw controls.
*Cat Thomas has 32 ground balls.
*Lindsay Toppe has 89 goals, 25 assists and 114 points. She is tied for third in the all-time rankings for game-winning goals (7).
*Emily Tripodi has 56 assists and 71 points. She is fifth all-time for assists (56) in the Cornell record books.
 
UP NEXT
Cornell will travel to Brown Saturday for a 1 p.m contest.