NEW YORK, N.Y. -- The Cornell field hockey team scored three first half goals, then rode its defense in the final 30 minutes to pick up a hard-earned 3-1 Ivy League victory over Columbia on Friday evening at Columbia Field Hockey Stadium. The Big Red evened its record at 2-2 (1-0 Ivy), while the Lions slipped to 2-3 (0-1 Ivy) with the loss.

Grace Leahy scored twice sandwiched around Polly Parsons' first collegiate goal within a minute of the Lions equalizing in the first quarter. Martha Broderick and the defense did the rest, smothering the Lions and holding them without a goal over the final 55:51, making a pair of strong saves in picking up her second victory in goal. Senior Antonia Packard recorded her first career assist in the win.

The Lions got three saves in goal from Katie Wimmer, while the lone score of the game was from McKenzie Bloom. Conell held a narrow 7-6 edge in shots and only two penalty corners were issued in the contest, one to each team.

It was a wild first five minutes, with the Big Red coming out of it with a 2-1 Big Red lead. The Columbia keeper made a save for the Lions in the opening two minutes, but Leahy broke through a minute later. Olivia Friedberg picked a Columbia player clean near midfield and sent it ahead to Leahy, who carried the ball, avoided a defender and beat a diving Wimmer to open the scoring.

Columbia knotted the score less than 90 seconds later on a scramble and a backhand shot by McKenzie Bloom just 4:09 into the contest. The Big Red took the restart, ran down the field and earned a quick penalty corner. Caroline Ramsey blasted a shot that was deflected, but right onto the stick of Parsons who buried it into the cage to regain the lead.

Cornell added an insurance goal with Leahy's second score of the day and the season. Antonia Packard got behind the defense in transition and served it into the middle for Leahy, who made a great run and again beat a diving Wimmer to go up 3-1 late in the first half.

The Big Red held its opponent scoreless in the second half for the third straight game, extending its streak to 118:40 of second half play without allowing a goal. Parsons appeared to chip in a second goal for some additional insurance, but it was nullifed due to a kick.

NEXT UP
Cornell returns home to face American on Sunday, Sept. 17 at 2 p.m. at Marsha Dodson Field.
The contest will be broadcast live on ESPN+.
The Eagles lead the all-time series 3-0, including a 3-1 win in 2021 in Washington, D.C.