ITHACA, N.Y. – Head coach Donna Hornibrook earned the 115th win of her career with Cornell, tying Shelby (Pontz) Bowman to become the winningest coach in the history of the Big Red field hockey program. The win came in dramatic fashion as Cornell came back to defeat Yale, 2-1, this afternoon at Marsha Dodson Field to earn its first Ivy League win of the season.
 
"I'm happy for the girls. They worked really hard," said Hornibrook. "We started by playing really, really well, but we still had to battle back."
 
The victory marks just the 16th time in Hornibrook's tenure that the Big Red has come back from an early deficit to win.
 
Cornell (6-5, 1-2) dominated the contest, holding a 19-10 advantage in shots and an incredible 13-3 edge in penalty corners, but Yale got solid play from goalie Emilie Katz (10 saves) to stay in the contest.
 
Yale (4-6, 0-3) earned just two penalty corners in the first half, but converted one in the 15th minute for the early 1-0 lead. Carol Middough's initial shot was blocked by Krysten Mayers, but the ball careened to Kiwi Comizio, who slipped it to Bridget Condie on the left side of the circle, and Condie blasted it home to stake the visitors the early advantage.
 
With time winding down in the first half, Mayers stole the ball deep in Yale's defensive end, pulled Katz off her line, and then rolled back to the center of the circle before sending a reverse-stick shot in to the net. The tally moved Mayers into seventh place in Cornell history with 28 career goals.
 
Cornell took the lead for good at the 57:26 mark on a penalty stroke by Kirsten Pienaar, the first goal of her collegiate career. The stroke opportunity was set up by Mayers, who streaked down the left-side of the field and slipped a perfect cross back to Katie Carlson, who's shot on the empty goal was kicked by a Yale defensive player.
 
The Bulldogs responded to the Cornell goalie with increased offensive player, taking six of its 10 total shots in the final nine minutes of the contest, but Cornell goalie Kelly Johnson was up to the task, making four saves during that span. Johnson finished the game with six stops to earn the win.
 
Cornell is back in action tomorrow when it welcomes No. 4 Syracuse to Marsha Dodson Field at 3 p.m.