GAME 1: Cornell (0-0, 0-0 Ivy) at Villanova (0-1, 0-0 Big East)

Date & Time: Saturday, Feb. 19 - 12:00 p.m.
Venue: Villanova Stadium - Villanova, Pa.
Twitter: @CUBigRedGameday | @CornellWLax
 

STORY LINES

• The longest offseason in program history ends this weekend, and Cornell women's lacrosse couldn't be any more excited it's over.
• The Big Red will visit Villanova to kick off the 2022 season, and when the first draw commences on Saturday, Feb. 19 at 12 p.m. at Villanova Stadium, Cornell will have waited 715 days since its last contest.
• The contest against the Wildcats will be broadcast on FloSports.
• Head coach Jenny Graap's 25th team at her alma mater – an experienced group with freshmen highlights - is ready to make noise nationally and contend for a spot at the Ivy League Tournament, a conference title and an NCAA appearance.
• Cornell and Villanova have met five times previously, with the Big Red posting a 4-1 record in those games.
• Finishing in the top four has been nearly automatic over the years for the Big Red, earning a spot in the Ivy League Tournament eight times in 10 seasons, including seven of the past eight. 
• Cornell won a share of the 2017 regular season crown and earned the program's first tournament title the year prior.
• The 2020 Big Red had opened the season 4-2 and with a 2-0 Ivy League record prior to COVID-19 canceling the remainder of the campaign, followed by 2021 being erased due to the worldwide pandemic. 
 

SERIES HISTORY VS. VILLANOVA

Overall: Cornell leads 4-1, first meeting in 2016
In Villanova: 1-1
Current Streak: Cornell, 1
Last Meeting: Cornell, 13-11 (2/15/2020 in Ithaca, N.Y.)
Graap vs. Villanova: 4-1 (1-1 on the road)
Series Notes: The two teams first met in 2016 and have squared off every season since, excepting the 2021 campaign when the big Red did not compete due to the COVID-19 pandemic • Cornell won the first three meetings between the teams a 13-12 win by the Wildcats in 2019 • the Big Red's previous wins in Ithaca came in 2016 (7-6) and 2018 (13-7) • Cornell is 4-4 all-time against current members of the Big East
 

A WIN OVER VILLANOVA WOULD

• make Cornell 30-20 all-time in season openers, including 19-5 in head coach Jenny Graap's 25seasons.
• improve the Big Red's lead in the all-time series to 5-1, including 2-1 in Villanova.
• push Cornell's record to 5-4 all-time against current members of the Big East.
• be the 355th in program history (354-309-4 in 50 seasons, .534).
 

BIG RED IN SEASON OPENERS

• Cornell looks to open the 2022 season much the same way it has opened virtually every other year under head coach Jenny Graap ... with a win. 
• The Big Red is 18-5 (.783) in season openers under Graap, outscoring its opponents 281-191. 
• Cornell is 29-19 (.604) all-time to begin its 48 seasons. 
 

NEXT UP

• Cornell will continue its two-game road swing to open the campaign when it visits Binghamton on Tuesday, Feb. 22 at 4 p.m. at the Bearcats Sports Complex.
• The Big Red leads the all-time series 8-0 and has averaged 17.5 goals per game in those contests.
• Cornell is 4-0 all-time at Binghamton.