ITHACA, N.Y. – The Cornell women's polo team will hit the road for the first time this season when it travels to compete in the Virginia Polo Fall Tournament, hosted by the University of Virginia Polo Club, on Oct. 20-24 in Charlottesville, Va. A pair of games are on tap for the Big Red, who will open the tournament against Colorado State on Wednesday at 4 p.m, with a contest against host Virginia following on Friday at 4 p.m.

The Big Red split its two contests at the Virginia Fall Invitational in 2019, defeating Texas A&M on Oct. 25, 2019 by a score of 9-6 before falling to the Cavaliers on Sunday, Oct. 27, 2019, 19-9. Looking ahead to this year's opponents, Cornell holds a 14-1 series record against Colorado State. The Big Red will take on the Rams for the first time since the 2010-11 season, when Cornell defeated Colorado State, 23-4, on Feb. 4, 2011 in Fort Collins, Colo.

Cornell and Virginia are very familiar with each other, with both teams having squared off 130 times. Friday's contest will be the 131st meeting between the two teams, with the Big Red holding a 90-38-2 advantage over the Cavaliers in the series. Virginia has been dominant as of late, however, winning nine of the last 10 meetings between the two teams, including the last time the squads faced off on Nov. 24, 2019 in the Bill Field Invitational in Ithaca, N.Y. Virginia walked away with a 25-13 victory that day.

The Big Red is off to a 1-1 start this season, falling in its season opener to Melinda's Prospect, 20-12, on Oct. 8 before bouncing back with a 14-7 win over White Winter Farm on Oct. 15. Cornell was led in the victory by Jasmine Umrigar, who scored a match-high five goals. Lea Jih-Vieira posted a season-high four points on three goals, one of which was good for two, while Sophie Neis added three goals of her own.

Umrigar, Neis, and Jih-Vieira have paced the Big Red offense so far this season, combining for 21 of the Big Red's 26 points in its first two contests. All three student-athletes have scored seven points on the season. Senior Rachel Booth has notched three points, scoring a pair of goals, including a two-pointer, against Melinda's Prospect.

The Cornell women's polo team will be back in action at home when it takes on Garrison Forest on Friday, Oct. 29 at 7 p.m. at the Oxley Equestrian Center in Ithaca, N.Y.