Lacrosse looks to continue winning streak as it begins Ivy League competition

The women’s lacrosse team will begin Ivy League competition today as it travels to Ithaca, N.Y. to play Cornell. Columbia (2-0) will be looking to continue their winning streak after beating both Monmouth and Bucknell in their first two matches this season. Cornell currently has an overall record of 1-2, having lost their most recent game to Hofstra on Saturday.

When these two faced off last year, Columbia lost in a tight match, 11-8. The Lions’ Taylor Gattinella, however, scored the first goal of the game, getting the Light Blue off to a good start. The score was close throughout the first half, with each team putting in goals and arriving at a 2-2 tie with less than 11 minutes left in the half. It was just before the intermission that the Big Red pushed ahead by putting three shots in the net and finishing up the first half with a 5-2 lead.

It was Gattinella again who scored the first goal of the second half, while teammate Lauren Olsen put one in for the team as well. However, Cornell went on another scoring streak to widen its lead 9-4, and despite Columbia’s late rally, in which they scored four out of the final six goals, the Big Red was able to hold onto its lead and leave Baker Field with the win.

“We lost 11-8 last year,” said head coach Kerri Whitaker. “But every year and every team is different.  I think our team learned a lot from last season and we know what we want to accomplish this year.  Our team has a strong identity; we know who we are.”

Last year’s loss to Cornell brought the team to 5-1 overall, while improving Cornell to 5-0. However, this year, the Lions will look to continue their two-game winning streak while the Big Red hopes to even out its wins and losses for the season so far.

“We’re familiar with Cornell’s style of play and know that they will compete hard; they always do.” said Whitaker. “We have had good practices leading up to today and feel good about our preparation for Wednesday. Our team is playing with a lot of confidence and in our last game, really followed our game plan.”

Whitaker is not only looking forward to the Cornell match, but is also excited about the 2010 season and has high expectations for the team.

“Our team has big goals for this season, and it’s a credit to this team from our captains all the way to our freshmen, that they have worked each and every day toward those goals,” she said. “I know our players believe in the team and our vision, because they wouldn’t be working as hard as they are if they didn’t.  I see in them many of the components critical for success and our leadership has been very good.”

During spring break Columbia will also be competing against Ivy League rival Dartmouth on Wednesday, March 17, in Hanover, Mass. and against Stony Brook College in Stony Brook, N.Y. on Saturday, March 20. In competing against Dartmouth last year, Columbia lost 12-9 after holding the Big Green to a 6-6 tie in the first half. The Lions did not compete against Stony Brook in the 2009 season.

The Columbia-Cornell game will begin at 4 p.m. this afternoon in Ithaca, N.Y.