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HAMILTON – The Colgate field hockey team outshot Cornell, 18-9, including a 13-3 advantage in the second half, but the Raiders' rally came up just short against the Big Red in a 3-2 loss on Wednesday night at Tyler's Field.

Colgate (2-9) saw Jade Dennett score her first collegiate in the second half, while Lauren Dittman tallied her fifth of the season for the second Raider goal. Amanda DiDomizio had a perfect final half and made five saves in the game.

Cornell (4-6) got two goals from Marisa Siergiej, both on penalty corners. Hannah Balleza had a four-point day with a goal and two assists, while Taylor Standiford added a pair of helpers.

“In the second half, we had to step up what we were doing, we had to refine what we were doing and keep the ball out of the defensive end,” said head coach Cathy Foto. “We had the same plan in the first half, but just couldn't execute and we changed some personnel and told the team to stick with the plan, it is going to work.”  

Cornell struck first 16:18 into the game with Siergiej scoring her first of two in the opening half. The goal came on a corner with assists by Balleza and Standiford. The three hooked up again on another penalty corner with 11:08 left in the half to make it 2-0. Siergiej fired shot from the top of the circle that got by a diving DiDomizio.

Balleza added to the lead with an unassisted goal with 6:31 left in the half. It came on a penalty corner. DiDomizio made the initial stop on Genevieve Collins, but Balleza collected the rebound and chipped the ball over DiDomizio for the 3-0 advantage going into halftime.

Colgate had a couple of great opportunities early in the second half. Kelsey Jensen fired a shot on a penalty corner that was blocked aside and then Eliana Brown had a chance on a deflection, but Horner made the stop. Dennett also had a good opportunity on a cross and again Horner made the save. Brown almost got Colgate on the board at the 23-minute mark. She deked a Cornell defender and was open, but shot the ball wide as Horner came out to challenge the play.

The Raider pressure started to pay off as Dennett put home the first goal for Colgate with 10:11 remaining in the game. She was able to connect on a shot as three or four players were vying for the ball in the circle and it slowly crept by Horner to cut the lead to 3-1. With 5:28 left in the game, the Raiders got within one at 3-2 on a laser by Dittman with assists to Kendall Zaharris and Adriana Libutti.

“The last two corners that we scored on, I let the players call the play themselves,” said Foto. “When they see the play, they are confident and know that it will work and I give them credit for that.”

Colgate had a couple of chances down the stretch, but Horner was able to push them aside and the Raiders fell just short of a second-half comeback. Colgate had a 9-4 advantage in penalty corners in addition to its shot margin.

The Raiders will be back in action on Saturday at 12 p.m. as Colgate travels to Lafayette.