HAMILTON, N.Y. – The Big Red field hockey team started the season with a bang, registering a 9-0 victory over in-state rival Colgate this evening at Tyler's Field in Hamilton, N.Y. The nine goals scored by Cornell tied a school record that was previously set against Bryant (2008) and Saint Francis (2006).
 
In total, Cornell saw 10 players register at least one point, with seven of those players finding the point column for the first time in their collegiate career. Junior Marisa Siergiej and sophomore Elizabeth Horak finished with two goals apiece, while freshman Gabby DePetro registered one goal and one assist. Junior Katie Garrity tallied one goal and two assists, while freshmen Krysten Mayers, Katie Carlson, and junior Stephanie Eggertson scored one goal each. Senior Ann DiPastina had two asiststs, and junior Taylor Standiford and freshman Isabel Josephs added one assist apiece. 
 
On the defensive side of the field, the Big Red did not allow the Raiders a shot in the second half and rookie goalkeeper Kelly Johnson was called on to make just one save in 56:09, before giving way to junior Elizabeth Schaeffler.
 
"After a slow start, I thought we found our rhythm midway through the first half and that carried through for the rest of the game," said head coach Donna Hornibrook. "We had a really balanced attack and I was very pleased to see so many underclassmen, particularly the freshmen, contribute."  
 
The Big Red held the advantage in shots (25-2) and penalty corners (6-4).
 
Colgate (1-2) freshman goalie Maria Krull made nine saves in the loss.
 
The Big Red controlled the flow of play for the majority of the first half, but could not break through until the 14th minute when Siergiej scored on a penalty corner. Siergiej's initial shot was saved by Krull but she collected her own rebound and blasted a reverse stick shot into the far corner.
 
Just under five minutes later Siergiej made it a 2-0 game when she converted another penalty corner on a sweep shot to the far post. Both DiPastina and Standiford were credited with the assist.
 
Eggertson registered her first career goal and made it a 3-0 game in the final moments of the first half when she drove down the right baseline and blasted a tough angle shot that ricocheted off of Krull's pads into the goal.
 
In the 40th minute of play, Garrity scored when she tapped in a shot from DePetro to make it a 4-0 game.
 
Mayers earned her first collegiate goal and made it a 5-0 lead when she won a loose ball and had a breakaway down the left hand side and slid the ball under Krull's pads.
 
Next up, Horak registered her first career goal when she took a pass from Josephs and made it 6-0 with just over 18 minutes to play. Just under three minutes later the Big Red enjoyed a three-on-one breakaway and Garrity found DePetro in the center of the circle and the rookie tipped the ball over Krull to put the visitors up, 7-0.
 
A pair of goals less than one minute apart from Horak and Carlson capped the contest and accounted for the 9-0 final. Horak scored at 64:56 off a cross from DiPastina, and Carlson scored off a pass from Garrity at 65:34.
 
The Big Red is back in action on Sunday, Sept. 7  when it enjoys its home opener vs. Albany on Marsha Dodson Field at 1 p.m.