NEW YORK, N.Y. -- Sophomore Uma Käding scored two early goals to highlight Cornell's 4-0 first-quarter barrage and the visitors never looked back in a 5-2 victory over Columbia on Friday afternoon at the Columbia Field Hockey Stadium. The Big Red remained unbeaten at 4-0 (1-0 Ivy), while the Lions slipped to 3-2 (0-1 Ivy) in the conference opener for both squads.
The Big Red held a dominant 7-0 edge in shots in the first 15 minutes and was 16-9 for the game while dominating possession. Cornell's defense allowed two second half goals on penalty corners, but the home team never got closer than three scores over the final 45 minutes as it avenged a 1-0 loss to Columbia a year ago that ultimately proved to be the difference in earning a spot at the Ivy League Tournament.
Kading potted her third goal of the night in the fourth to complete the hat trick and put the game on ice. Jenna Villeneuve and Ashley Plzak also scored, with Annabel Cheveley and Julia Ramsey each being credited with a pair of assists. Ramsey's two helpers give her 27 for her career, moving her into third place on Cornell's all-time list.
Senior Jane McNally collected three saves in picking up her fourth win without a loss this season. She made two stops in the final minute of the second quarter and another on a brilliant stop in the waning seconds of the contest.
Sophia Abate led Columbia with a goal and an assist, while goalkeeper Margot Houle had seven saves for the Lions. Jacinta Solari Etche had the first Columbia score of the night, cutting into Cornell's halftime lead and making it 4-1.
QUOTABLE
"I though the first 15 minutes was probably the best 15 minutes of hockey we played in the last six years. We were sensational. We took our foot off the gas after that and if we are going to reach our full potential, we cannot afford to do that. Overall, I'm happy with the results and have lots of work to do this week in preparation. Special mention to Uma Käding (first collegiate hat trick) and Jenna Villeneuve (first collegiate goal)," -- Andy Smith, Head Coach of Cornell Field Hockey
GAME NOTES
• The Big Red has won eight of its last nine contests dating back to last year.
• Junior Julia Ramsey's two assists give her 27 for her career, good for third on the school's all-time list.
• Junior Annabel Cheveley's two assists boosted her season-best total to 12 points.
• Sophomore Uma Käding's four goals and two assists (10 points), making her the team's second double-figure scorer this season.
• Senior Jenna Villeneuve was credited with her first career goal.
• The team's five goals were the most in an Ivy game since topping Dartmouth 6-1 in 2023 and the most in an Ivy road contest since also knocking off Brown 6-1 in 2016 in Providence.
• The Big Red's 4-0 start matches its best since 2017 (4-0).
NEXT UP
• The Big Red returns home for a pair of games next week when it meets Ivy rival Yale on Friday, Sept. 26 at 6 p.m. and Vermont on Sunday, Sept. 28 at 2 p.m.
• Cornell and Yale will be meeting for the 47th time in program history dating back to 1979 with the Big Red leading 25-20-1.
• The Bulldogs knocked off the Big Red 5-0 last season in New Haven, Conn., though Cornell leads 7-3 over the past decade.
• Cornell and Vermont will be meeting for the first time since 2018, a 2-1 Catamounts' win in Burlington, Vt.
• That victory game UVM a 4-3 edge in the all-time series after the Big Red had won three straight.
