ITHACA, N.Y. -- Cornell women's polo emerged victorious over Yale in a 15-14 shootout thriller this past weekend. It was alternate Lara Chong who notched the winning goal for the Big Red. Lea Jih-Vieira led Cornell with 10 goals in the contest.

"With this Yale IS squad qualifying for their respective National Tournament that begins this coming week, we knew this game would be a challenge for our women," said the Pete B. Orthwein `68 Head Coach of Polo, Anthony Condo, Jr. "This game resembled more of a collegiate men's polo "style" in its structure, speed, and overall feel, as Yale competed as an open team, allowing three fo the four athletes to be men's team players. This was something our women's squad would need to adjust to in the second half. And to their credit, they adjusted in a big way, and that proved to be the difference tonight."

Yale jumped out to a quick three point lead in the first chukker, with a live-action goal and a two-point penalty stroke taken from the 25-yard line. Jih-Viera had the first Big Red goal, followed by a Sophie Kofsky goal. Malachi Light of Yale added her third point of the day on a live-action goal, but points by Jih-Vieier and Jasmine Umrigar knotted the game at four after the first chukker. Yale stormed away in the second, tallying eight goals to Cornell's one.

The Big Red found its stride in the third chukker, withe two goals a piece for Umrigar and Jih-Vieira, overpowering Yale's two goals to win the chukker 4-2, and bring the Cornell deficit to 14-9. Jih-Vieira put on a clinic in the fourth chukker, scoring five goals while the Big Red defense shut out Yale, forcing a shootout when regulation ended, 14-14.

UP NEXT
Cornell women's polo will face some schedule changes to close out the spring season. Stay tuned on CornellBigRed.com for updates to come.