The women's lacrosse team beat Cornell 18-7 yesterday in a game not quite as challenging as those it has grown used to in recent weeks.
After a one-day postponement of the originally scheduled Saturday game, the seventh-ranked Big Green advanced their record to 5-3 overall and 2-1 in the Ivy League.
The team took an early lead and ended the first half with a 13-3 score. Dartmouth opened the scoring with a goal two minutes into the game and added another 15 seconds later.
Two-time Ivy League Offensive Player of the Week, Lauren Holleran '95, left the game with a sprained ankle after the first five minutes, but will be back for Tuesday's game against Yale.
Despite the absence of Holleran, who leads the nation in goals per game and total points in a single game, the Big Green offense was unstoppable.
"It was good to see the offense, as a whole, take control," Coach Amy Patton said. "The scoring was well balanced between the players."
Former Ivy League Defender of the Week, captain Ellen Bruce '94 ironically lead the offensive attack with four goals and one assist. "She played a great offensive game, especially while [defensively] marking one of Cornell's best players," Patton said.
Sarah Devens '96 had three goals and three assists and Wally Cook '95 and Kim Mendelson '97 had three goals each. Margaret Field '93 had a goal and an assist and Mya Mangawang '95, Maura Schneider '96, Jana Friedman '94 and Carolyn Keber '96 each added a goal.
Cornell opened the second half with four goals in five minutes, causing Dartmouth to call for its only allowable time out.
"Cornell's success early in the second half was due to our relaxed playing." Patton said. "Let downs our a regular problem for us which can be trouble in a game as fast paced and potentially high scoring as lacrosse. We need to be more consistent because we won't get away with this against the better teams."
Despite the short lapse, Dartmouth's man-to-man playing style was not as shaken by Cornell's unusual zone format as it had been last year.
Last spring the Big Green pulled out a tough 3-2 victory over the Big Red and blamed part of the game's closeness on the different style of play Cornell uses. This year the team took advantage of effective double teaming and the extra fast break opportunities Cornell presented them.
"I am really pleased with today's game," Patton said. "I saw a lot of things come together for the first time this season."
Due to stormy weather and an unavailability of officials, the team was unable to play the University of Massachusetts last week. That game will be rescheduled after the conclusion of the regular season.
The Big Green resume their home-game action on Chase field Thursday against Boston College at 3 p.m.
