ALBANY, N.Y. -- After 30 minutes of feeling out a new season, the Cornell women's lacrosse team found its rhythm in the second half to pick up an 18-15 win over UAlbany on Saturday afternoon at John Fallon Field. The win gives the Big Red a 1-0 record this season and a 4-3 edge in the all-time series. The Great Danes slipped to 0-2 on the year.

Shannon Brazier and Maggie Pons each had four goals and Amanda Cramer recorded a hat trick and added an assist for four points to lead six goal scorers with at least two tallies. Mia DiChiara added three goals and both Katie Castiello and Josie Vogel chipped in two goals and an assist as part of a balanced attack.

Annie Thomas had seven of the team's 21 draw controls as the visitors controlled the circle, winning 21-of-37. Cramer added five wins and both Brazier and Alexa Donahoe had three apiece. Freshman defender Caitlin Tully had two caused turnovers and junior Grace Faircloth notched four ground ball wins and caused a Great Dane miscue. Ellie Horner had nine saves in goal to pick up her first collegiate win, 

Cornell trailed 5-1 less than six minutes into its season and spent the entire first half clawing back, tying the score at 9-9 with just over a minute to play in the first half. UAlbany would score late, but the Big Red went into the locker room trailing just 10-9.

The Big Red opened the second half on a 3-0 run, ultimately scoring six of the first seven after the break, to go up 15-11 early in the fourth. The Great Danes scored three straight of their own to get within 15-14, but Cornell stiffened up late and added a pair of insurance goals in the final three minutes to make the final margin.

The Great Danes' Katie Pascale was a force with five goals and four assists for nine points to go along with four draw controls. Haley Phalines won seven draws and Shonly Wallace scored three times.
 

Next Up

• The Big Red will play its home opener against Central New York rival Colgate on Tuesday, Feb. 21 at 5 p.m. at Schoellkopf Field.
• Cornell holds a 34-15-1 edge in the all-time series and has won 21 of the past 22 meetings, including a 17-6 contest in 2022.