ITHACA, N.Y. -- The Cornell field hockey team improved to 3-0 in Ivy League play for the first time in a dozen years after rolling to a 4-0 victory over Brown on Friday evening under the lights at Marsha Dodson Field. The shutout extended the Big Red's winning streak to three games and improved them to 4-4 overall, while Brown slipped to 3-6 and 0-3 in the league.
Senior
Ashley Plzak got Cornell on the board at 7:10, tipping in a direct shot off a penalty corner assisted by senior
Annabel Cheveley. The Big Red doubled their lead early in the second quarter when junior Uma Käding converted a penalty corner at 16:04 off assists from seniors
Rease Coleman and
Julia Ramsey, and sophomore
Stella Thibeault made it 3-0 at 21:47, banging in a rebound after an initial save by Brown goalkeeper Ellie Parker.
Freshman
Rebecca Block closed the scoring in the third quarter, finishing a penalty corner at 36:49 with assists from Coleman and Plzak to make it 4-0. Cornell's defense did the rest, holding Brown to just six shots on the night.
"I thought we were excellent tonight," said head coach Andy Smith. "I thought that our penalty corner conversion was superb. Everybody played very, very well. I think the team came out with something to prove after what happened at Brown last year, and were very, very happy with the result. We go again on Sunday, and we're really excited about what's to come towards the end of the season."
Ramsey's helper on Käding's goal was the 39th assist of her career, moving her within one of Cornell's all-time record. Junior goalkeeper
Martha Broderick made two saves to post the shutout win in goal for the Big Red, the 23rd victory of her career. She is now just two shy of the school record. Parker turned away four shots for Brown.
Cornell will attempt to extend its win streak to four it visits Colgate on Sunday, Oct. 4 at 2 p.m. in Hamilton, N.Y.
