CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. -- The Cornell men's polo team jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first chukker and never looked back, topping Texas A&M 11-8 in the semifinals of the UVa Fall Invitational on Thursday evening at the Virginia Polo Center. Cornell improved to 2-0 on the young season and will meet Virginia in the championship game on Saturday, Oct. 25 at 2 p.m. in another early test.

"I'm really proud of our guys for stepping up today and advancing to the finals of the UVa Invitational for the first time in my coaching tenure," said Anthony Condo Jr., The Peter B. Orthwein `68 Head Coach of Polo. "This team can go toe-to-toe with anyone in the country, and though I know we have our work cut out for us as the season progresses, I'm very proud of them for their effort today. I look forward to meeting old friend and foe UVa in the men's final."

The Big Red used a balanced attack, getting four goals from Max Sponer and three apiece from Malachi Light and Benito Jaramillo-Samper in the victory with one pony goal added. After holding a narrow 4-3 lead at the half, Sponer's two-point goal in the third chukker doubled the team's lead from 7-5 to 9-5 and eventually got to 10-7. The Aggies cut the deficit to three in the fourth, but Cornell brought the win home to remain unbeaten on the season. 
 
"We did have to make some very last minute changes to our horse strings today, which certainly caught us a bit off-guard, but that's the name of the game in intercollegiate polo, and we must be able to adjust accordingly on short notice."