Cornell women’s lacrosse opened its home schedule with a statement victory Sunday, defeating No. 24 James Madison 12-8 at Schoellkopf Field for its first ranked win of the season.
The Big Red took control early, scoring five unanswered goals in the opening quarter and never surrendering momentum. Cornell extended its advantage to 8-2 by halftime and maintained the lead throughout the second half to secure the win.
Ella Wilmot led the offense with three goals, while Emily Iacobellis, Kathleen Michaud and Ellie Bergin each scored twice. Gretta White, Lexie Tully and Cameron Traveis added one goal apiece, and Holly Newman paced the attack with four assists.
Cornell controlled key statistical categories, finishing with advantages in shots (23-13), shots on goal (17-9), ground balls (18-14) and draw controls (12-10). The Big Red defense forced a season-high 14 turnovers, helping limit James Madison’s offensive opportunities.
Caitlin Tully anchored the defensive effort with four caused turnovers, five ground balls and four draw controls. In goal, Mackenzie Clark played 58:06 and made one save while allowing eight goals.
Cornell’s balanced performance included scoring in every quarter while maintaining defensive pressure despite difficult weather conditions. The victory highlighted a strong start to the season, with Bergin leading the team with seven goals through three games and Tully pacing the squad in caused turnovers and ground balls.
Cornell returns to action Saturday, February 28, hosting Penn State at Schoellkopf Field for a 3 p.m. draw.
Kyle leads sports coverage and hosts the Concrete Jungle podcast. Have a lead or question? Send it to [email protected].