Field Hockey Returns Home, Outscores Opponents 7-1

The field hockey team (3-3, 1-0 Ivy) christened the inaugural match of Marsha Dodson Field this weekend with style. On Saturday, the squad opened its Ivy play versus the Penn Quakers (1-6, 0-1 Ivy) with a 3-1 victory then followed the win with a 4-0 victory over Georgetown on Sunday.
Senior Belen Martinez recorded one goal and one assist to break into the Red’s top-10 for both goals and points, while fellow senior Abbi Horn tallied one assist to move into 10th place on Cornell’s all-time career assist list. A day later, Horn again led the team, this time with a career-high three goals as the Red rolled over the Georgetown Hoyas (0-8), 4-0.[img_assist|nid=32000|title=Hooking a hat trick|desc=Senior attacker Abbi Horn scored a career-best three goals during Cornell’s 4-0 win over Georgetown Sunday afternoon. With the three, Horn moved into 10th place on Cornell’s all-time career assist list.|link=node|align=left|width=|height=0]
Against the Quakers, perhaps with a bitter taste still in their mouths following the previous weekend’s consecutive 3-2 defeats, Cornell came out firing. Just 3:34 into the first frame, sophomore midfielder Kate Thompson tipped home a shot by Martinez.
Before the half was over, Cornell doubled up on their lead as Martinez made a nifty play off a penalty corner to add an insurance goal.
Penn would not go down without a fight, however, as they brought some pressure in the second half.
The only blemish in junior goalie Melanie Jue’s otherwise spectacular weekend came in the 57th minute when Quaker Abigail Egan struck for Penn on a rebound attempt, cutting the lead to 2-1.
Smelling blood, the Quakers continued to pressure the Red throughout the remainder of the match, but the Red defense would not buckle. Sophomore attacker Catie De Stio sealed the game for Cornell with the go-ahead score with 4:20 remaining in the contest.
On Sunday, Horn’s hat trick proved to be more than enough offense for the Red, as Cornell dominated the Hoyas from start to finish. Her performance was the best in a Red jersey since Gina Testa scored four goals against Rutgers on Oct. 31, 2004.
Wasting little time in asserting control, Cornell led 3-0 — and Horn had racked up two goals — before the game was 18 minutes old. Horn later added a third insurance goal in the 42nd minute after junior attacker Katie Kirnan forced a turnover and found Horn, essentially quelling any hope of a Georgetown comeback.
Jue held strong with three saves over 57:13 before head coach Donna Hornibrook replaced the junior net minder with freshman Alex Botte, who gained some experience in her first NCAA game. Overall, Cornell outshot Georgetown 26-5 while tripling the Hoyas in penalty corners, 12-4.