ALBANY – After enduring two shutout losses to start the season, the Big Red field hockey team's offense exploded to lift Cornell to a 7-0 victory over Sacred Heart this evening at the University of Albany's Alumni Field.
 
Katy Weeks and Krysten Mayers chipped in two goals apiece, while Sam McILwrick, Marisa Seirgiej, and Kate Fitzpatrick registered one goal each. Seirgiej also added one assist, as did Isabel Josephs, Isabel Seirgiej, Taylor Standiford, and Elizabeth Horak. In goal, Kelly Johnson was called on to make just one save to earn her first shutout of the season.
 
With her goal, Seirgiej moves into a tie for fifth place in Cornell history with Emily Robb (1995-98) with 29 career goals.
 
Cornell (1-2) completely dominated the run of play, outshooting the Pioneers, 21-4, and putting 16 of its 24 shots on goal. The Big Red also held the slim 4-3 advantage on penalty corners and converted two of its four chances.  
 
Sacred Heart goalie Mary Altepeter made eight saves and allowed six goals in 58:10 of action before Emily Degennaro let in the final goal of the evening without registering a save. The Pioneers also received a defensive save from Allie Brouhard.  
 
Weeks got the Big Red on the board in the seventh minute of play when she collected a loose ball at the top of the circle and blasted a shot past Altepeter. Less than two minutes later, Mayers dribbled into the circle, evaded the defenders, and got off a close-range shot to make it a 2-0 game.
 
Cornell registered back-to-back penalty corner goals, with the first coming off the stick of McILwrick, who redirected Marisa Seirgiej's shot into the goal at the 21:17 mark, before Seirgiej netted her first goal of the season just 1:35 later. Seirgiej's goal was assisted by her sister Isabel Seirgiej and Standiford.
 
The Big Red took the 4-0 lead into halftime and the score remained that way until Fitzpatrick scored the first goal of her collegiate career when she deflected a shot by Horak at the 54:02 mark.
 
Just as they opened the scoring with consecutive goals, Weeks and Mayers closed the game with back-to-back goals to account for the 7-0 final. Weeks scored on a nice individual effort, while Mayers' goal was assisted by Josephs, who dribbled into the circle and then centered the ball to Mayers, who capitalized.
 
The Big Red is back in action on Sunday, Sept. 13 as it welcomes defending MAAC champion Monmouth to Marsha Dodson Field at 1 p.m.