ITHACA, N.Y. – The Big Red field hockey team ended a two-game skid this afternoon with a hard-fought 2-1 decision over Lock Haven on Marsha Dodson Field. With the win, Cornell improves to 6-3 on the year and evens the series with the Lady Eagles at 5-5. The game was another nail biter in a series that has had eight games decided by a single goal, including five in overtime.
 
Cornell held the edge in shots (12-8), shots on goal (7-4), and penalty corners (5-4) and it got out to a 2-0 lead before giving up a goal to Lock Haven in the 66th minute to see Maddie Henry's shutout bid ended.
 
Krysten Mayers got the Big Red on the board early in the contest when she took a pass form Sam McILwrick and beat Lady Eagles' goalie Paige Stuppy. With her goal, Mayers tied Marisa Siergiej (2012-15) for the second most goals in program history and sits just two behind the all-time leader, Linda Miller (1980-83). The tally was also considered the game-winner, moving Mayers into third place all-time in Cornell history with 10 game-winning goals.
 
Maddy Conklin added a much needed insurance goal in the 52nd minute when she ripped a reverse stick shot from just inside the circle to put the Big Red up, 2-0.
 
Lock Haven turned up the pressure over the final 10 minutes of the contest, forcing Henry to make a save and midfielder Kirsten Pienaar registered a defensive save, before eventually getting on the board when Kayla Brathwaite fought her way into the circle and sent a centering pass to Lauren Cole, who beat Henry at the 65:51 mark.
 
From there, Cornell's defense locked the Lady Eagles down and didn't allow another shot for the final 4:09 of the contest.
 
Henry finished with two saves to earn her fourth victory (4-2), while Stuppy stopped five in the loss.
 
The Big Red is back in action next weekend when it travels to Yale on Saturday, Oct. 7 for a contest at noon.