ITHACA, N.Y. -- Hat tricks from CJ Kirst and Billy Coyle lifted Cornell to a 12-5 win against RV/RV Lehigh in its home opener. A second half defensive shutout held Lehigh to its lowest goal total of the season so far, after averaging 19.5 gpg in its first two games. The Big Red take a 10-9-3 lead in their all-time series with the Mountain Hawks, winning the last nine consecutive contests. Cornell improves to 2-0 (0-0 Ivy League) while Lehigh falls to 2-1 (0-0 Patriot League).

"We just executed better in the second half," said the Richard M. Moran Head Coach of Men's Lacrosse. "It's early season stuff for us. And we're always aware that there's plenty to build on. Even from this date, there's been plenty things that we can take the next step, but overall proud that we're progressing. Our hope is to get better every day in practice, and every week is should look a little bit better. These guys came out with the right mentality and focus and we executed a little better. We're gonna do the same thing as we turn the page next week."
 
Coyle drew first blood in the first quarter with an unassisted goal, marking his third of the season. Lehigh answered back with a goal of its own to tie it a 1-1. The score was tied once more at 2-2 before the Big Red went on 3-0 run with goals from JJ Lombardi, Ryan Sheehan and another from Kirst. Lehigh managed to add one more to close out the first period at a 5-3 score.
 
Two opening goals from the Mountain Hawks' Christian Mule' and Quinn Armstrong led to a knotted score at 5-5 with 12:24 left in the second quarter. This would be the final time Lehigh would score through the remainder of the game.
 
Kirst and Coyle completed their hat tricks in the second quarter along with a goal for Christopher Davis, his first collegiate goal, to give the Big Red a 9-5 edge going into halftime.
 
Brian Piatelli got in on the action after halftime scoring two goals in the third stanza. Andrew Dalton scored the last goal of the game with two second remaining in the quarter.
 
A scoreless fourth quarter hung the final score at 12-5, Cornell.
 
OF NOTE

• Kirst has scored nine goals in just two games.
• Davis scored his first career goal.
• Cornell out-shot Lehigh 48-27.
• In Jack Cacadden's first career appearance, he went 5-11 from the faceoff.
• This win marks the fourth consecutive year the Big Red open their season 2-0.

UP NEXT
The Big Red take on their first mid-week match up at Hobart on Tuesday, Feb. 28. Faceoff is set for 5:00 p.m. in Geneva, N.Y.