Box Score (PDF)

VILLANOVA, Pa. – The #15/15 women's lacrosse team jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the first 15 minutes of the game and never looked back, going on to top Villanova, 18-6, in the season opener on Saturday afternoon at Villanova Stadium. Senior tri-captain Kristy Gilbert netted a career-high six goals to lead the Big Red while eight other players added tallies, including two first career goals.

Junior Taylor Reed opened the scoring for Cornell less than five minutes into the game and then Gilbert scored her first of the day just a minute later. Sophomore Tomasina Leska put Cornell up 3-0 at 22:15 and then senior Amie Dickson and Kristy Gilbert scored just 52 seconds apart to stretch the Big Red's lead to 5-0.

Villanova got on the board just past the 15 minute mark of the first half but Gilbert then scored two-straight goals just 37 seconds apart, with Dickson earning the assist on the goal that made it 7-1 and would stand up to be the game-winner.

Both Dickson and Leska would finish the day with four points while Reed finished with three points.

Villanova used a free position shot to cut the lead to 7-2 but Leska finished a feed from classmate Sarah Phillips and then Gilbert put away her fifth of the half – and fifth in 14 minutes – to make it 9-2. Each team would add one more tally before the break, with senior tri-captain Catherine Ellis getting her first of the year on an unassisted effort with 5:31 remaining.

The Big Red opened the second half with three unanswered goals in less than a three minute span. First, junior Joey Coffy found Gilbert for her sixth score of the game and then Leska assisted on Dickson's and Reed's second goals of the game to make it 13-3.

Coffy's first of the year came in between two Villanova goals and then Reed fed Phillips with 11:51 to play to make it 15-5 and Dickson completed her hat-trick before two rookies closed out the scoring for the Big Red.

First, Caroline Allen notched her first career goal with an unassisted effort and then classmate Lucy Pedlow converted a free position shot with 90 seconds to play to make the final score, 18-6.

Senior Renee Poullott got the start – and the win – in goal for Cornell, making nine saves and picking up two ground balls. Sophomore Samantha Nielsen made one save in eight minutes of play in relief while freshman Katie McGahan saw the first action of her career but saw no shots.

The Big Red picked up a total of 20 ground balls, led by senior tri-captain Catie Smith with four, and controlled 14 of 26 draws. Dickson tied a career-high with three caused turnovers.

It was the sixth consecutive season-opening victory for the program and the second-straight over Villanova.

The Big Red will play its home opener against #7/6 Penn State next Saturday, Feb. 25, at 1 p.m.