ITHACA, N.Y. -- The Cornell women's lacrosse team used a quick start to lead from wire-to-wire to claim a 15-6 victory over Central New York rival Colgate in the Big Red's home opener on Saturday afternoon at Schoellkopf Field. The Big Red improved to 2-1, while the Raiders saw their record slip to 2-2.

Cornell led 5-1 late in the first quarter, then scored three goals in the final 44 seconds of the first half to extend its lead to 9-4 at the break. The Big Red slowly pulled away after the break in claiming its second win of the season.

Maggie Pons scored four goals and added an assist and Kylie Gelabert scored two goals and chipped in three assists to pace six multi-point scorers. Dillyn Patten, Caitlin Slaminko and Alexa Donahoe each had two goals and an assist and Ella Wilmot scored twice. Ellie Bergin came down with six of the Big Red draw control wins. Ellie Horner picked up her 15th career win in goal with three saves in the first 30 minutes, while Mackenzie Clark stopped three shots after halftime and surrendered just two goals. 

Caroline Panzirer paced the Raiders' offense with three goals and an assist and Lucy Licata won nine draws. Lauren Solis made 11 saves in goal for Colgate. The Raiders were hampered by 22 turnovers and an 8-of-14 night clearing the ball.
 
Dillyn Patten got the Big Red on the board twice in the first three minutes and the Big Red never looked back. Cornell led 5-1 on Alexa Donahoe's dodge to goal with under two minutes remaining in the first quarter. Colgate ultimately got within 6-4 midway through the second, but a 23-second span late in the half all but sealed it for the home team.

It started innocently enough as Pons answered a pair of Caroline Panzirer goals for Colgate with one of her own. Then after Patten won the ensuing draw, she looked ahead to Pons who buried her second shot in eight seconds. Just 15 seconds later, it was three consecutive goals and a 9-4 edge heading into the break. 

It didn't get any easier for the Raiders, who went scoreless for more than 18 minutes as the Big Red went on a 6-0 run to turn a two-goal lead into a 12-4 edge midway through the third. After the Raiders got one back, Donahoe and Pons against scored on Kylie Gelabert feeds to go up nine goals and end any thoughts of a Colgate comeback. 

NEXT UP
• The Big Red remains at home to face Niagara on Tuesday, Feb. 25 at 3 p.m. at Schoellkopf Field. 
• It will be the first-ever meeting between the Big Red and the Purple Eagles on the lacrosse field.
• The contest will be broadcast live on ESPN+.