ITAHCA, N.Y. – The Penn men's lacrosse team scored the first six goals of the game, dominated play in the first quarter, and then held off a frantic Big Red comeback to hold on for a 9-6 victory this afternoon at Franklin Field.
 
Cornell (3-4, 0-2 Ivy) was led by Andrew Keith and Anthony Teixeira with one goal and one assist apiece, as the Big Red's six goals came from six different players.  
 
Alex Roesner led the Quakers with three goals, while Simon Mathias finished with three assists and one goal for a game-high four points. Tyler Dunn also had a multi-point game with two goals.
 
Penn (5-2, 2-0 Ivy) held the slim edge in ground balls (28-26), but the Big Red took more shots (36-27), put more shots on goal (20-14), and had two fewer turnovers (15-13).
 
Despite a slow start, junior Grant Mahler won 12-of-18 face-offs, including 7-of-10 after halftime, and picked up a career-high five ground balls.
 
In goal, Brennan Donville mad five saves in the loss, while Penn's Reed Junkin made 14 saves in the win.
 
Cornell's man-down defense continued to impress, holding the Quakers to a 1-of-4 performance.
 
A TALE OF TWO HALVES
•The Big Red managed just five possessions in the first quarter, three of which ended in a turnover, one was lost on a shot that was backed up by Penn, and one was saved by Junkin.   
•Penn took 17 shots in the first quarter and just 10 more over the final 45 minutes of the game.
• Cornell limited Penn to just five shots in the second half.
• The Big Red forced Junkin to make 10 of his 14 saves after intermission.
 
NOTES TO KNOW
• In total, 6-of-9 Cornell points came from either freshman (Teixeira, Colton Rupp, Clarke Petterson) or from individuals registering their first collegiate points (Grant Mahler, Jake Pulver).
• Junior Grant Mahler, who came into this weekend a perfect 8-of-8 in the face-off circle, went 12-of-18 (.667) this afternoon.
• The Big Red has won the face-off battle in 10 straight contests.
• Cornell's defense has caused at least five turnovers in six consecutive games.
• Senior John Edmonds was held without a point for the first time in eight contets.
• Penn's Nick Doktor entered the week leading the nation in assists per game (3.33) and ranked seventh nationally in points per game (4.67), but was held to just one assist this afternoon.
• The last time Cornell opened the Ivy League season with two losses was 1995, when the Big Red lost to Harvard (14-11) and No. 16 Yale (12-10).
 
UP NEXT
The Big Red remains on the road next weekend to take on Dartmouth on Saturday, April 2 at 1 p.m.