Box Score (PDF)

ITHACA, N.Y. — Gabby DePetro scored in the game's fifth minute and the field hockey shook off the rust to stave off Ohio for a season-opening 1-0 victory on Friday evening at Marsha Dodson Field.
 
Kirsten Pienaar started the play leading up to the goal with a long pass forward from the midfield. The ball deflected off an Ohio defender's stick, which slowed it down just enough to allow the hustling Maddy Conklin to run on to it. Just before the charging goalkeeper hit the ground, Conklin passed the ball across the middle to where DePetro beat her defender and sent a shot inside the near post for her sixth collegiate goal.
 
The strike came against the run of play in the early going, when Ohio (1-2) pressured Cornell (1-0) backs and threatened with a few aerial balls.
 
"I thought we just didn't have any rhythm at all," said head coach Donna Hornibrook, who improved to 11-4 in season-openers in her Cornell tenure. "The first few minutes, we were really struggling to get the ball out of our back field and not making good decisions. The sharpness just wasn't there."
 
Still, the Big Red also didn't yield much in the way of quality scoring opportunities. Goalkeepers Kelly Johnson and Maddie Henry split time, with each making one save in their respective half. The Bobcats' most dangerous attacks in each half came late. Leah Warren cut in along the end line from the right side in the first half, but Johnson sprawled to thwart her attempt toward middle.
 
The end of the game ended with even more excitement, as Ohio earned a penalty corner in the final minute, then another one shortly thereafter when Cornell was whistled for encroachment on the first. After Ohio received the ball, it opted to make a couple interior passes that were defended well. Sam McILwrick emphatically swatted the ball away in the dying seconds, giving Cornell its second one-goal win over Ohio in as many years.
 
Up next for the Big Red is another non-conference game at 2:30 p.m. Sunday against Bucknell at Dodson Field.
 
"It's a bit of a disappointing performance, but you are happy to get that first win under your belt," Hornibrook said. "That's always good. But we know we've got to be better and have a little more cohesive effort on Sunday."