The Cornell field hockey (6-4) team delivered a decisive blow to California-Berkeley (6-3) who was previously unbeaten at home. Entering the day with a two-game losing streak, the Red was looking for redemption as it began its two-game tour of California this past Monday. Once again resorting to the 7 vs. 7 overtime configuration, the Red used the extra minutes to defeat the Golden Bears 2-1.
The first half was an even battle in which neither team had many offensive advances. This pattern continued until twenty minutes remaining in the second half when freshman Karliegh Burns jump started the Red offense when she scored on a penalty corner. The Red, however, could not hold on to its lead as the Bears answered just three minutes later. Stephanie Lyons beat Red goalkeeper Maureen Sullivan from just inside the semi-circle.
In a Red trademark, the two teams headed into overtime to decide the outcome. Both teams entered the extra minutes undefeated in overtime decisions. It was the Red powered by sophomore Anna Starkey, however, who found the back of the cage first. Starkey scored at 9:53 of the overtime off of a rebound from a penalty corner to gain the victory.
This win came just two days after a crushing loss to Ivy League foe Harvard. The Red was looking to open its Ivy League season 4-0, but Crimson senior Kate Nagle had other plans on her mind.
The standout produced a hat trick for the Crimson, while teammates Eliza Dick and Philomena Gambale both chipped in a goal for the win.
Freshman Lindsay Grace off a pass from sophomore Sarah Rosenbaum provided the lone goal for the Red.
But the team is looking to leave California with a 2-0 record.
In order to achieve this goal, there is only one thing standing in the way: the Stanford Cardinal. The Cardinal is currently 5-9, and although not posting a .500 record, all but one of the losses were one-goal decisions.
After dropping its past two games in overtime and double overtime, the Cardinal will be looking to settle this game in regulation, especially, against Cornell’s 7-vs.-7 record. Still unbeaten in overtime, the Red has proven that it can use the smaller configuration of players to its advantage and find the back of the cage early.
The Cardinal however carry a history behind it. The one and only time these two teams met was in 1991 and Stanford was the victor. However it looks as though history will not be repeated. With a strong showing already on the West Coast, look for the Red to be victorious at the conclusion of tomorrow’s matchup.
Archived article by Kristen Haunss