Box Score (PDF)
 
ITHACA, N.Y. – Sophomore midfielder Amie Dickson continued her fantastic run to begin the 2015 season, as Cornell women's lacrosse blew past local rival Colgate for an 11-5 victory Wednesday evening at Schoellkopf Field. With the victory the Big Red moved to 2-1 on the season, while the Raiders record evened to 2-2.
 
Dickson had a major impact throughout the contest, finishing with a career high six points on three goals and three assists. The second year player stepped up big time, as the Big Red was without major senior contributor Sarah Hefner. Dickson played a major role early in the draw controls, while she also quarterbacked the Big Red's movements at the top of the crease. With her single-game career high effort, she has already eclipsed her career bests for points, goals and assists in a season.
 
Senior Lindsay Toppe continued her strong start, netting two goals in the first half to be the first Big Red player to crack into double-digits this season. Sophomore mid Kristy Gilbert also added two goals to help Cornell take a 5-2 lead into the break.
 
Sophomore goalkeeper Renee Poullott had a strong outing, stopping six shots and allowing only five goals in the contest.
 
The Cornell defense asserted itself right off the start, as Colgate won first possession off the opening draw control of the game. The Raiders probed the Big Red end for over six minutes of possession, but could not find a weakness. Ultimately, Cornell forced a turnover and wasted little time getting on the board, as Toppe beat Colgate keeper Jennie Berglin upstairs for a 1-0 Cornell lead.
 
The opening possessions for both squads would be the theme for the first half. While Colgate did a nice job to equal Cornell with four draw controls apiece at the half, the Big Red did well to create attacking chances, while on the flip side neutralize the Raiders defensively. Cornell carried an impressive 12-to-3 edge in shots on goal at the break.
 
Although the visitors would answer the Big Red's opening tally with a goal from the Raiders leading scorer Emily Peebles, the Big Red would mark the next four scores to take a lead it would never relinquish. Dickson started the scoring run with a goal of a beautiful pass by Shelby McNeilly into the crease. Toppe would a second goal during the run, while Gilbert would score twice in a row to stretch the lead to four.
 
The Big Red could have easily taken an even larger lead into the intermission if it were not for the play of Berglin. The Raider netminder made seven saves in the opening half, while Haley O'Hanlon capped the scoring in the half to cut the Cornell lead to three at the break.
 
The home side got the ball rolling quickly in the second stanza, netting the first two scores. Dickson started the first play off the reset, feeding junior Emily Tripodi who potted the goal from the middle of the crease. Dickson would score the next just under three minutes later. Freshman Taylor Reed made the play happen, forcing a turnover in the defensive third and carrying the ball 60 yards on the counter, before dishing a pass to Dickson, who rifled a shot through the legs of Berglin to stretch the lead to five.
 
The teams would trade goals over the middle portion of the period, before Cornell would string together a three-goal run to blow the game open. Sophomore Catherine Ellis would score two goals during the run, including a man-up tally on a nice turning shot off of a low cycle pass from Tripodi. The helper was Tripodi's 64^th of her career, moving within four of tying Lori Wohlschlegel (1999-2002) for third all-time.
 
The Cornell defense would hold strong down the stretch, allowing just one goal over the final 21 minutes of play. Juniors Maddie Kiep, co-captain Brittany Marriott, senior Claire MacManus and sophomore Catie Smith all played strong games defensively, limiting a Colgate attack that has averaged over 12 goals per game over the first three contests. The Big Red would finish with 10 caused turnovers on the night.
 
Up next for the Big Red is a trip to Yale for the team's first taste of Ivy League play this season. Opening draw is scheduled for 11 a.m. on Saturday, March 7.