Box Score (PDF)
 
ITHACA, N.Y. – Cornell women's lacrosse started strong in its long awaited return to Schoellkopf Field on Saturday afternoon; however, a five-goal run by visiting Princeton snatched control of the game, as the Cornell dropped its second straight contest by a 13-11 final margin. The loss drops the Big Red to 3-2 in Ivy League play on the year.
 
The Big Red looked to be in good position in the early moments of the second half. The home side had taken a 6-5 lead to the halftime break and was playing like it was shot out of a cannon to begin the second stanza. Senior co-captain Lindsay Toppe tallied just 11 seconds into the half – her third of the game – to send the Big Red off and running. Freshman Joey Coffy added a tally at the 25:27 mark to stretch Cornell's lead to three – its widest margin of the half – much to the liking of the Big Red faithful in attendance.
 
The Tigers (9-3, 4-0 Ivy League) flipped a switch following the Coffy goal, as Anya Gersoff asserted herself to take over the draw control. Princeton scored twice in an 18 second span and five straight over a 4:57 span to take an 10-8 lead it would not relinquish. The draw control was the difference. While Cornell dominated the first half with a 9-3 advantage in the draw, it was all Princeton in the second half, with the Tigers posting a 10-4 advantage.
 
Toppe would add two late tallies, while junior Emily Tripodi would add a late goal, but it would not be enough as the Tigers held on for the victory. Toppe would finish with five goals in the contest to move within one goal of Jaimee Reynolds (1999-2002) for the all-time program record for career goals. She currently sits in second on the list with 143 career goals, while her five-point effort moved the senior co-captain alone into fifth place on the program's all-time point list with 178 for her career.
 
Sophomore Catherine Ellis added two goals in the contest, while senior Sarah Hefner and sophomore Kristy Gilbert each added one goal. Sophomore Amie Dickson, junior Abby Hanson and Tripodi each added one assist in the game.
 
Sophomore net-minder Renee Poullott (L, 8-4) finished with eight saves in the contest.
 
The Tigers jumped out to an early lead just one minute into the contest, as Anna Doherty broke the ice on the scoreboard. Cornell did not wait long to respond, as Toppe and Ellis scored back-to-back over a 48 second span to snatch the Big Red's first lead of the afternoon.
 
After Princeton struck for two tallies on goals from Olivia Hompe and Erin McMunn, Cornell struck in transition to tie the game at three. Hefner made an excellent play behind her net, sprinting over to pick off an intended pass and quick-starting the Cornell clear. Ellis deposited the scoring chance to equalize the game at 3-3.
 
The Big Red concluded the half on three-goal run to take a 6-5 lead to the break. Hefner started the run, making an excellent move down the left side of the fan, before whipping a shot short-side to pull the home side within a goal. Gilbert equalized the game with just under three to play in the opening half and Toppe pushed Cornell ahead 23 seconds later with her second of the half off the rush.
 
Cornell continued its run into the second half, as Toppe tallied her seventh hat-trick of the season. Coffy widened the lead to Cornell's widest of the game at three. Setting up Princeton's comeback run down the back stretch of the half.
 
Women's lacrosse will return to action on Tuesday evening when it will wrap-up non-conference play against #11/12 Penn State. Opening draw is scheduled for 5 p.m. at Schoellkopf Field.