Box Score (PDF)
 
ITHACA, N.Y. – Cornell women's lacrosse wrapped up its non-conference slate on Tuesday evening when it welcomed #12/12 Penn State to Schoellkopf Field for the middle game of the team's three-game home stand. Although the Big Red jumped out to an early 3-1 lead, the potent Nittany Lion attack went on a seven-goal run to take a handle on the game it would not relinquish to cruise to the 13-9 victory.
 
Despite the sour outcome, it was a special evening for one of the finest attackers in the entire history of the Big Red program. Senior co-captain Lindsay Toppe tied the program record, previously held by Jaimee Reynolds (1999-2002), with her 144^th career tally with 19:57 remaining in the second half. She moved all-alone into first place on the list just 2:02 later. Toppe would go on to finish with all four goals in the Big Red's comeback bid during the second half. The four-point game also elevated her all-alone into third place on the program's all-time point list with 182 for her career.
 
Sophomore Catherine Ellis tallied two goals for Cornell (8-5), while sophomores Kristy Gilbert and Shelby McNeilly each added one. Senior Sarah Hefner played an excellent game, finishing with one goal and a season-high three assists, to go along with a team-high three draw controls. Junior Emily Tripodi added two assists to move within six of the program record.
 
Defensively, junior Abby Hanson played a fine game in her first start of the season, filling in admirably in the absence of junior co-captain Brittany Marriott. She caused a game-high three turnovers, while adding two draw controls and a ground ball. Senior Claire MacManus added a caused turnover and two ground balls, while sophomore Catie Smith forced two caused turnovers and corralled one roller.
 
Sophomore Renee Poullott played a great game in net for the Big Red, finishing with 10 saves, which is her second time she reached double-digit saves this season. She made several big stops down the stretch, but the Nittany Lions (11-3) were able to stifle the Cornell transition game, forcing three failed clears in the second half and four total in the game.
 
In traditional fashion, Cornell got off to a flying start with deliberate, but precise offensive sets. Cornell jumped out to an early 3-1 advantage with Hefner, McNeilly and Ellis tallying goals. Hefner broke the ice on the scoreboard a little under five minutes in, streaking through the fan to receive an excellent feed from Tripodi, before whipping it past Nittany Lion goalkeeper Emi Smith. Tripodi replicated the play nearly three minutes later, but this time it was McNeilly the beneficiary. Ellis capped the strong start with her favorite move, giving a head and shoulder fake at the left side of the fan, before spinning back right to gain inside position. Her low shot beat Smith to the short-side and the Big Red was off and running.
 
For the second straight game, Cornell was victimized by the big run, as Penn State would answer with a seven-goal run to ultimately take control of the game. It was a fantastic team effort, as six different Nittany Lions scored during the run. Steph Lazo would score a pair during the stretch, while she would finish with the visitors lone hat-trick in the contest.
 
Gilbert and Ellis would score goals to close out the first half, but the team still had work to do heading into the break. Cornell trailed 8-5 at the break, marking just the second time all season that Cornell trailed at the 30 minute mark.
 
Cornell looked to continue its run in the second stanza and looked to do just that when McNeilly ripped home a shot 1:25 into the second session. Unfortunately, the tally was not what it appeared to be, as McNeilly was whistled for using an illegal stick, nullifying the goal. It would prove to be a major turning point in the contest, as Penn State collected the next two goals to re-establish the five goal lead.
 
Toppe showed excellent determination to almost will the Big Red back single-handedly. She equaled the program record on a fantastic display of individual effort, weaving through four defenders, before sending a laser through Smith's legs and into the twine.
 
The record-setting goal came just over two-minutes later. The senior moved left-to-right across the fan, before surprising the net minder with a sinister snap shot from nearly 10-yards out. She would go on to cap the scoring in the contest with two more tallies, but it would not be enough, as Cornell came up just short for the third straight game.
 
Cornell will return to action on Saturday afternoon when it welcomes Harvard for a 1 p.m. opening draw at Schoellkopf Field. The program will celebrate Senior Day before the opening draw to honor Sarah Hefner, Claire MacManus, and Lindsay Toppe. The winner of the contest will punch a ticket to the Ivy League Tournament.