ITHACA, N.Y. -- The Cornell men's and women's polo teams each went 1-1 in their opening weekend contest at Virginia's Fall Invitational. The Big Red men advanced to the finals, while the women bounced back from an opening loss to take the consolation game this past weekend at the Virginia Polo Center.
The men opened their season on Thursday with a 13-8 victory over SMU, followed by a 12-6 setback in Sunday's finals against the Cavaliers. Cornell took the lead early against the Mustangs and maintained a two-goal advantage through the first half with the score 7-5 at the break. The Big Red squeaked ahead 10-7 after three. The fourth saw SMU close to 10-8, but the Big Red's scrappy defense worked hard to save several close calls on goal while stretching its lead to 13-8. On Sunday,Â
Ryan Saul,
Ignacio Masias, and
Dan Shaw returned to the starting circle, taking an early lead. With the game tied at 2-2, Virginia's next two goals came off plays where Cornell was clearing the goal and hit a ball that would catch a horse's foot and bounce to a Cavalier player in scoring position. The Cavalier lead grew to 8-2 at the half. The teams traded goals for much of the second half as Virginia remained unbeaten by taking the title.
The women, meanwhile, dropped a 14-6 contest to UVa before recovering for a 15-4 triumph over Cal Poly. Virginia led 8-2 at the half and 12-3 after three chukkers in Thursday's opener. Cornell finally started to put it together and took the fourth, 3-2, but it was too-little, too-late. With
Shariah Harris,
Hannah Noyes,
Anna Ullmann and
Gillian Cowley ready for mounts on Saturday, Cornell jumped out early and led 8-1 at the half in a battle for third place. Cal Poly regrouped in the third and tallied three times, but Cornell was still able to extend its lead to 12-4 after three before shutting them out in the fourth to ride home with the win.
The women return to action on Friday, Oct. 20 when Skidmore visits Oxley Equestrian Center for a 5 p.m. matchup. The men will play their home opener the following weekend against Maryland Polo Club.
