Box Score (PDF)
 
PRINCETON, N.J. – Cornell women's lacrosse came achingly close to securing the program's first victory in the Ivy League Tournament on Friday afternoon, but ultimately fell just inches short in a 7-6 loss to Penn at Class of 1952 Stadium. The loss drops the Big Red to 9-7, as the squad will now have its fate turned over to the selection committee for a possible at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament.
 
Trailing 7-4 with under 10 minutes to play, Cornell launched its second big comeback of the contest. Senior Sarah Hefner ignited the comeback with a fantastic individual effort. Starting her run from the top of the fan, she weaved her way through three Penn defenders and fired a laser into the top corner of the net to pull the Big Red within two.
 
Penn won the ensuing draw and continued to eat clock in order to protect the narrow lead. Cornell nearly caused a turnover on three occasions, but was each time whistled for stick foul. With under seven minutes remaining, Nina Corcoran of Penn tried to feather a pass across the fan, but Hefner did a great job to step in front of it to intercept.
 
The Big Red did not rush the ensuing offensive set, showing great patience to hold for a quality opportunity. Working a double loop around the net, Hefner made a perfect feed to sophomore Catherine Ellis who was trailing her on great run around the net. She quickly whipped a shot from just outside the goalie crease into the cage to pull the Big Red within one at 7-6.
 
The Quakers again won the draw, but Cornell's defense showed great determination. The Big Red nearly forced a turnover three times, but each time the Red was whistled for the foul. However, the pressure had a positive effect, as Penn's Iris Williamson sent an errant pass, giving Cornell possession with just over a minute remaining.
 
Cornell did an excellent job handling Penn's aggressive ride on the clear attempt and set up its offensive set with under 40 seconds left. Sophomore Amie Dickson controlled the ball and wanted to work it to senior co-captain Lindsay Toppe, but the Big Red's top goal scorer was shadowed by two Penn defenders. With that option eliminated, Dickson was forced to unload a final shot from the top of the eight-yard arc from a difficult angle. Penn goalkeeper Lucy Ferguson was able to get her crosse to the ball to make the game-saving stop as time expired.
 
Sophomore Catherine Ellis led the Big Red with two goals, while junior Emily Tripodi chipped in a team-high three points on a goal and two assists. Hefner added two points on a goal and an assist.
 
Toppe and sophomore Shelby McNeilly each added one tally for the Big Red.
 
Sophomore Renee Poullott played an outstanding game, finishing with eight saves in one of her finest performances of the season. She made several huge stops in both halves, including three saves on Penn free-position opportunities in the contest.
 
Junior Maddie Kiep led all players with four draw controls, while Dickson added three. The Big Red dominated the draw in the contest, winning 10 of 15 in the game.
 
Senior Claire MacManus and sophomore Catie Smith played splendidly in the defensive third. MacManus had one caused turnover, while Smith added a ground ball. Both did an excellent job limiting Penn's skilled attackers.
 
Both goalkeepers were sharp in the early going. The Red had the game's first major chance as Toppe got an excellent look on a run down the right flank into the eight-yard arc. She fired a shot across her body to the far post, but Penn keeper Lucy Ferguson was up to the task. Minutes later junior Maddie Kiep challenged her on a turning shot from five-yards out, but again Ferguson denied her.
 
Not to be outdone, Poullott was also very sharp early. She made two sparkling saves on Penn's first two possessions, including a beautiful save off a Nina Corcoran free-position shot. She made three saves before the Penn offense was finally able to break through.
 
Lely DeSimone was able to best Poullott on a low shot to the far post to open the scoring. The goal seemed to lift the Quakers, as they would go on to tally the next three to open a 4-0 lead to begin the game.
 
Corcoran and Dickinson both tallied goals off Williamson feeds into the eight-yard box. The goals game just 45 seconds apart. Dickinson added her second of the game just under three minutes later on a carbon copy goal from the left side of the net.
 
Facing a four-goal deficit, the Big Red turned to its senior co-captain to spark the comeback. Tripodi started the play moving from the 'X' position behind the net to her left. She fed a perfect pass to Toppe, who was cutting through the eight-yard fan. She whipped a shot top-shelf over the right shoulder of Ferguson to break the ice on the scoreboard for Cornell.
 
Tripodi continued the comeback run, creating for herself on the next possession. With Penn clamped down on the Big Red's runners, Tripodi moved right from behind the net this time and fired a shot short-side on Ferguson to halve the deficit. The junior was shaken up on the play, but battled and remained in the contest.
 
McNeilly sent home the third straight for Cornell to pull within one. Making a deft move to spin into the eight-yard arc, she was fouled to set-up Cornell's first free-position of the afternoon. She took two steps and fired a laser over the left shoulder of Ferguson to make it 4-3.
 
Dickinson appeared to net her hat-trick on the ensuing possession after the McNeilly goal, but it was waved off for an illegal stick. However, she netted a legal goal on the next Penn possession to re-establish the multi-goal lead. Ellis would tally with 3:19 remaining in the opening half to make it 5-4 at the break.
 
Both teams buckled down defensively after the halftime break. No team could generate offense through the first 10 minutes of the half.
 
The Big Red looked to generate a huge momentum swing at the 18:43 mark of the half when the recently named Ivy League Defender of the Year Meg Markham was sent off for her second yellow card of the afternoon; making her ineligible to return in the game.
 
Cornell patiently worked its offensive set and with one-minute remaining in the player-advantage, Dickson was fouled inside the eight-yard box to set up a free-position on a straight angle. Dickson fired a low shot that Ferguson was able to get a leg on to make the save. The rebound came to Tripodi at the right of the net. She quickly picked it up and fired it into the twine for the apparent tying goal, but the tally was waved off after it was ruled that she had a foot in the crease.
 
Penn would go on to score on the ensuing possession in another dramatic momentum shift in the other direction. The breaks would continue to go against the Big Red in the second half, as both Ellis and Hefner would fire shots off the post.
 
Freshman Anna Baumeister appeared to score a huge goal to make it 7-5 with around 12 minutes remaining. Drawing a foul at the edge of the box, the freshman set up for a free-position. She worked her way to the middle amongst two Quaker defenders, before whipping home a shot that appeared to be her first collegiate goal; however, the tally was again waved off for an illegal stick.
 
At the end of the day it was the breaks that did in the Big Red, as it fell to Penn for the second time in less than one week by one. Cornell will look to secure an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament. The selection show is scheduled for Sunday, May 3.