ITHACA, N.Y. – Cornell junior goalie Kelly Johnson posted a career-high 10 saves, and the Big Red field hockey team dominated play in the second half, but were unable from a 1-0 halftime deficit to No. 19 Stanford this afternoon at Marsha Dodson Field.
 
"I thought we had a solid game," said head coach Donna Hornibrook. "I think we tried to force it at times but I thought we were able to find pockets and get some flow going up front. I think our girls played a hard game and it's disappointing that we didn't get the result ... We're at a point where we're not satisfied with close performances. We wanted that win and we're really disappointed that we didn't get it."
 
The Cardinal dominated the first 35 minutes of the contest, outshooting Cornell 11-2, and forcing Johnson to make four saves. The visitors took the 1-0 lead in the 30th minute on an opportunistic goal by Sarah Helgeson. The play began as a Stanford penalty corner that Cornell safely defended as Luisa Schulte-Bockum cleared the ball from the circle. Unfortunately for the Big Red, Kennedy Schumacher collected the ball near the corner and crossed it back into the circle towards the goal. As it was struck outside the circle, Johnson let the ball go, but instead of passing into the net, it struck the post and bounced back to the center of the goal line, forcing Johnson to battle Helgeson for the ball, and Helgeson won by putting it into the back of the net.
 
Stanford (2-4) took the 1-0 advantage into the intermission, but Cornell came out of the break with a renewed focus, earning eight penalty corners and getting off seven shots. The Big Red's best chance came in the 43rd minute when Krysten Mayers won a 50-50 ball and her defender lost her stick. The junior forward streaked towards the goal before sending a perfect pass to Kate Fitzpatrick, who drew Kelsey Bing out of her goal and pulled around the keeper, but had her shot on the open net saved by midfielder Caroline Beaudoin.
 
Cornell's defense also stepped up in the second half, allowing the Cardinal into the circle just five times with only two chances, both of which were penalty corners that were saved by Johnson.
 
For the game, Stanford outshot the Big Red, 19-9, but Cornel held the 10-4 advantage on penalty corners. Bing finished with two saves to go along with the one defensive save by Beaudoin.
 
Cornell hits the road for a game at Lock Haven on Sunday, Sept. 18 at 2 p.m.