NEW YORK, N.Y. – Cornell freshman
Krysten Mayers scored with just 57 seconds remaining in the first overtime stanza to hand the Big Red field hockey team a 2-1 sudden victory triumph over Columbia this afternoon in New York City. Mayers earned the game-winner when she snagged a long upfield pass from
Katherine Stone, drove past the Lions' defender and found the back of the net.
Mayers also had the Big Red's first goal of the game, putting the visitors on the board midway through the first half when she drove down the center of the circle and beat Lions' goalie Kimberly Pianucci to make it a 1-0 contest at the 14:02 mark.
Cornell improves to 6-1 overall (2-0 Ivy), its best start to a season since the 2009 squad went a perfect 7-0 to open its campaign.
The Big Red outshot Columbia, 12-7, and held the 6-4 edge in penalty corners. Pianucci kept the home team in the contest with five saves, and also benefited by a defensive save from Lauren Skudalski, who stopped a chance by
Taylor Standiford in the 31st minute. Cornell junior
Elizabeth Schaeffler saw her first start of the season and made three saves, including a great stop on a penalty corner with just 28 seconds remaining in regulation, to earn the win.
The game was forced into overtime after a goal by Christina Freibott in the 65th minute of play.
Both teams had a chance in overtime, with Cornell earning the only penalty corner of the extra stanza, but couldn't get a shot off. The Lions' Zoe Blake sent a chance wide right in the 76th minute and moments later,
Katy Weeks put a shot for the visitors wide left of the cage.
A green card on Freibott at the 80:44 mark gave Cornell a great opportunity to play with an extra-man, but the Columbia defense held and blocked the only shot the Big Red took during the advantage. It took nearly three minutes for Cornell to take another shot, but it proved to be Mayers' game-winner.
The Big Red is back in action tomorrow, Sunday, Sept. 28, when it takes on Monmouth at So Sweet A Cat Field in West Long Branch, N.J., at 1 p.m.
