PHILADELPHIA – The Cornell women's lacrosse team tested No. 6 Penn Saturday afternoon at Penn Park, but its upset bid fell just short. The Quakers (8-1, 2-0 Ivy League) outlasted the Big Red (4-4, 2-1 Ivy League), 11-10.
 
Sarah Phillips led the team with four points on three goals and an assist. The senior attacker now has 99 career points (70 goals, 29 assists).
 
In the early goings, both teams' defensive efforts shined. It took over six and half minutes before either team got on the board. Penn's Gabby Rosenzweig opened the scoring with a goal 6:41 into the contest.
 
Another 6:22 would pass before the contest's next tally. Caroline Allen capitalized on a straightaway free position chance with 16:59 left in the opening stanza. The Ardmore, Pennsylvania, native entered the contest ranked second in the Ivy League in free position goals per game with an average of 1.14.
 
Following Allen's goal, the Quakers looked like they may pull away as they went on a 3-0 run. Though, Cornell responded with a 3-0 run of its own.
 
Phillips started the run with goal that was assisted on by Olivia Jensen with 12:47 left in the first half. Then Allen found the back of the net with an unassisted tally for her second goal of the game. The duo of Allen and Phillips teamed up on the Big Red's third consecutive goal. Allen sent a decisive pass into Phillips, who was about five yards away from net. The Manhasset, New York, native then quickly fired it home to even things up at four with 4:54 left in the opening half.
 
Penn answered back quickly to regain the lead, with a goal from Zoe Belodeau just 44 seconds later. Gabby Rosenzweig added another goal before the end of the half to give the Quakers the two-goal advantage heading into the half.
 
The Big Red scored the first two goals of the second half to even things up once again. Ellie Walsh started things off with a goal less than a minute and a half into the second half. Just over a minute later, the Big Red evened things up once again with a goal from Grace Paletta. Phillips sent the pass in to Paletta, who was in front of the net. Paletta then quickly swatted the ball into back of the net to make the score 6-6.
 
The tie held for 1:36 before the Quakers netted the first of three second-half free-position goals with Taylyn Stadler putting the Quakers ahead 7-6.
 
Cornell answered back with two consecutive goals. The first came from Jensen who buried a shot with the assist credited to Tomasina Leska with 22:07 left in the contest. The next tally came from Walsh which made the score 8-7 in favor of the Big Red, giving Cornell its lone lead of the game.
 
The Quakers responded with four unanswered goals, two of which were free position chances. The run put the Quakers ahead 11-8 with 9:19 left.
 
The Big Red then cashed in on two free positon opportunities. Phillips scored the first to complete the hat trick with 6:36 left. Then, Paletta netted the second to make it a one-score game with 3:45.
 
Cornell had possession late in the game and had a few quality chances. Jensen had a shot sail wide with just over a minute left. Moments later, Allen was the victim of an unfortunate bounce. Her shot attempt was deflect by Penn goalkeeper Mikaila Cheeseman and bounce off the pipe.
 
Cornell returns to action at 5 p.m. Wednesday when it hosts in-state foe Binghamton. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+.
 

NOTES TO KNOW

• Cornell fell to 2-1 in Ivy play and to 2-2 on the road this season.
• The Big Red dominated offensive chances, outshooting Penn 39-18.
• Phillips has now registered six multi-goal performances this season.
• Allen had her seventh multi-goal game of the season.
• Three of the Big Red's four losses this season have been decided by two or less goals. Additionally, three losses have come against ranked opponents.