Ithaca, N.Y. – The #1 ranked women's polo team started off the USPA National Championships with an 18-10 win over #4 seed Cal Poly.  The victory secures Cornell's place in Saturday's championship match where Cornell's starting trio of Anna Winslow, Emma Eldredge, and Elena Wicker look to defend their National Title. 
 
The Big Red scored the first three goals of the match before Cal Poly got on the board.  Cornell scored the last three of the first – including an awesome two pointer by Winslow – to make it 6-1 heading into the second.      
 
Cal Poly gained some momentum in the second, but fell further behind to trail 11-4 at the half. 
 
The Mustangs refused to go away as they traded blows with the Big Red throughout the third.  Cornell managed to extend their lead to 16-8 by the end of the chukker.
 
The fourth saw the two teams play to a draw as Cornell walked away with the 18-10 win.  Winslow tallied 11 goals in total, Eldredge contributed four, and Wicker added three.
 
Saturday's final will take place at 12:00 p.m. between Cornell and Texas A&M. 
 
Texas A&M and the University of Virginia went to a shootout in the second semi of the day.  The Aggies ultimately snatched the victory for a chance to play the Big Red in Saturday's championship.  This is the first time since 2009 that Cornell and UVA have not played each other for the title.
 
The championship match takes place on Saturday, April 9 at 12:00 p.m. in Storrs, Conn.