W. Lax’s Farrell Makes Mark

Although injuries, a rigorous schedule and streak play have contributed to the women’s lacrosse team’s disappointing 3-8 (2-3 Ivy) record, it is tough to find anything to criticize in the play of junior Courtney Farrell.
The two-time All-Ivy selection made Cornell lacrosse history last night surpassing Allison Schindler ’05 for program’s single-season assist record. Collecting three assists in the Red’s 22-9 loss at Syracuse, Farrell now has 29 on the season – one beyond Schindler’s mark set in 2003.
“She is very talented and has an excellent stick,” said head coach Jenny Graap ’86. “She has an eye for open cutters and executing passes. I’m not surprised she got this record — it’s an aspect of the game she loves.”
However, maybe the more impressive part is that the team-oriented Farrell was not even aware of the record, and, once notified, tried to divert all credit elsewhere.
“I didn’t even know about it,” she said. “It’s really just my teammates. I’m just making passes and they’re the ones doing the scoring.”
With four games remaining on the Cornell schedule, Farrell should have ample opportunity to add to that record — though the numbers really don’t concern her at all.
“I’m really just trying to help out the team in whatever way that I can,” Farrell said.
It’s no surprise that Farrell is already setting records as a junior. The 5’3” Syracuse-area native made an immediate offensive impact for the Red upon her arrival, and she hasn’t stopped since.
As a freshman, Farrell led the team in points with 28 goals and 12 assists, while already showing a penchant for big games by recording one six-point and two five-point efforts. Maybe what was most impressive, however, was her display of skill beyond her years manifested in a team-high .549 shooting percentage.
That momentum carried right on into her sophomore year as Farrell played an integral role in piecing together Cornell’s 12-4 record, an NCAA tournament appearance and the program’s first every Ivy League title.
Again, Farrell paced the team with 52 points and 19 assists as she began to emerge as one of the premier playmakers in women’s lacrosse. She also continued to build her career-bests, including a six-goal performance at 2006 final four participant Notre Dame and a seven-point effort against Dartmouth.
Meanwhile, the individual accolades started rolling in as she picked up two Ivy League Player of the Week awards and earned a selection to the U.S. Developmental squad.
Leading into the 2007 season, expectations could not have been higher for Farrell — a pre-season selection for the Tewarraton Watch List — or the highly touted Cornell team. However, despite the Red’s inability to live up to some predictions, Farrell has not disappointed.
At no surprise, she once more leads the Red with 49 points and 29 assists, while ranking sixth and 15th nationally in assists and points per game, respectively. Farrell credits her growing assist total from season to season to her built-up experience in the college game.
“My senior year of high school I had a lot of assists,” she said. “Getting assists at the college level was a lot different and a lot harder. I’ve just been working on getting better at it.”