ITHACA, N.Y. -- The Cornell women's polo team dropped a pair of season-opening contests to Virginia at its Fall Invitational this past weekend in Charlotteville. The Big Red lost its first match, 9-8, then fell 18-3 in the second.

Opening its season with a tough road game against Virginia, Cornell used a new lineup of Emma Eldredge, Hannah Noyes and Shariah Harris. The trio took a 3-2 lead after the first chikker and 5-2 overall before UVa got back within 5-4 at the break. In the third, Cornell stretched its lead to 7-5. Fatigue set in on the Big Red in the fourth as the Cavaliers quickly tied the match at 7-7 and ultimately pulled ahead 8-7. Cornell fought to tie at 8-8, but Virginia was able to score the go-ahead goal and hang on late for the one-goal win.

In the second meeting in 24 hours, the Cavaliers started off with some hot hitting, jumping on the Big Red quickly in the first to build a 4-0 lead.  Cornell responded to pull it to 4-2 before its luck started to turn and the Cavaliers went into halftime with a 12-2 edge. It didn't get any better in the second half, trailing 15-2 after the third chukker as Virginia cruised to the victory.