Steinberg Scores Six; Cornell Edges Columbia
from press release
ITHACA, N.Y. -- Sophomore Jessi Steinberg
scored six of Cornell's nine goals and powered the Big Red to a 9-7
win over Columbia in the Ivy League opener for both teams on
Wednesday afternoon at Schoellkopf Field. Cornell evened its record
at 2-2 (1-0 Ivy), while the Lions lost their first game of the year
(2-1, 0-1 Ivy). The Big Red has now won all 14 meetings with
Columbia in women's lacrosse.
After Columbia tied the game at 4-4 less than a minute into the
second half, the Big Red scored five of the next six goals,
including three by Steinberg, to give Cornell an insurmountable 9-5
edge with three minutes to play. The Lions scored twice in the
final 42 seconds to narrow the margin of defeat.
Steinberg was far from the only hero, as Libby Johnson had a goal
and an assist and Olivia Knotts scored the go-ahead goal in the
second half. All-American Tissy O'Connor had a pair of caused
turnovers and four draw controls. Sophomore goalkeeper Kyla Dambach
came off the bench to make six saves and allowed just four goals in
the final 40:26. Cornell held a 25-20 advantage in shots and
cleared the ball successfully on 14-of-15 attempts.
Kacie Johnson had two goals and an assists in the loss for
Columbia, with both Taylor Gattinella and Sarah Avallone scoring
twice. Karlee Blank was excellent in goal, stopping 12 shots and
winning two ground balls.
Cornell got off to a quick start, jumping out to a 3-0 lead less
than 10 minutes in. Steinberg got the Big Red going with a goal
less than two minutes in, then made it 2-0 at the 23-minute mark.
Johnson, who assisted on Steinberg's first score, got on the board
herself to make it 3-0.
The Lions, undaunted, went on a 3-0 run of their own. Johnson
scored twice and Gattinella capitalized on a free-position shot to
even the score at 3-3 with 10:26 left in the half. Steinberg put
Cornell ahead by one at the break when she beat Blank with under
eight minutes remaining to go into the locker room up 4-3.
The Lions tied it up 55 seconds into the second half when
Gattinella posted her second goal, and the two teams went 16
minutes without either team changing the tied score. Knotts finally
broke the deadlock with 13:05 left. Steinberg scored her fourth
with 11:47 left to make it 6-4, and after the Lions got one back,
she converted two more to go up 8-5. Katie Kirk tagged on an
insurance goal, and Columbia's two late scores proved too little,
too late as Cornell won its Ancient Eight opener.
Cornell returns to action on Saturday, March 13 at 3 p.m. when it
meets No. 17 Loyola (Md.) at Schoellkopf Field.
