Locked in a 5-5 battle at halftime, Cornell’s women’s lacrosse team took total control with a 7-0 third-quarter blitz en route to a 15-7 victory over UW-Stevens Point on a windy Saturday at Van Metre Field at Ash Park.
Coach Meredith Meier’s Rams climbed to 6-1 overall, marking the best start to a season in program history. They have outscored their opponents 101-48 through seven games.
The Rams held a commanding 44-18 advantage in total shots against the Pointers, and broke through with a flurry of goals after intermission. Cece Zanoni, Meg Lewis and India Smith each scored twice in the decisive third quarter. Smith added another early in the fourth period, capping an 8-0 run that increased Cornell’s led to 13-5.
Smith and Zanoni netted four goals apiece to head Cornell’s attack, which converted 5-of-10 free position shots. The dynamic duo has now combined for 52 goals this season.
Lewis and Sabrina Ibanez each posted three goals, while Anna Methe added one.
The Rams collected 19 caused turnovers, receiving four apiece from Smith and Ilsa Jeffery. Smith also led the team with eight ground balls, followed by Brynn Miroslavich with six.
Hannah Miech went the entire 60 minutes at goalie, recording three saves.
Earlier in the week, the Rams took a 15-7 win over Elmhurst.
Zanoni delivered the first of her five goals on the night just 62 seconds into the game and the Rams never looked back. Cornell reached the 15-goal mark for the fourth time this season and improved its record to 5-1.
Zanoni scored twice in the first period and added another in the second as the Rams built a 6-1 lead with 6:30 left to go in the opening half.
The Bluejays trimmed the margin to 8-5 through three quarters, but it was all Rams in the fourth. Cornell struck for five unanswered goals to start the final period to put the game away.
Ibanez posted three goals and one assist for the Rams, who outshot the home team, 34-16, and held a 24-9 advantage in ground balls.
Smith filled the stat sheet with six caused turnovers, five draw controls, five ground balls, two goals and one assist. Cheyenne Greenenwald scored twice, while Hailey Sieler, Miroslavich and Lewis tallied one goal apiece.
The Rams accounted for 24 caused turnovers, including five each by Ilsa Jeffery and Lewis.
Miech worked all 60 minutes at goalie.