ITHACA, N.Y.—Nationally-ranked Cornell used a balanced offense and stout defense to defeat Hobart 23-7 at Schoellkopf Field tonight. The Big Red improved to 2-1 while the Statesmen, who have faced three ranked opponents this year, fall to 1-3.
CJ Kirst led Cornell with five points on three goals and two assists. Three other Big Red players finished with four points. Wyatt Knust got the start in goal, making 10 saves in 45 minutes of work. Matthew Tully turned away five shots in the fourth quarter. The Big Red are No. 10 in the coaches poll and No. 9 in the media poll.
Sophomore
David Peterkin recorded his first career hat trick to lead Hobart. First-year
Chris Patterson scored twice. Graduate student
Adam Shea (9-18) and first-year
Mike Valent (9-15) combined to win 18-of-33 faceoffs. Valent corralled a game-high five ground balls and Shea added four. Goalie
Elhanan Wilson played the first half, making nine saves.
Cornell jumped out to a 2-0 lead before Peterkin got Hobart on the board. The Big Red rattled off the next five goals to build a 7-1 lead less than a minute into the second quarter. Patterson stopped the run with his fourth goal of the season, but Cornell scored three times before the half for a 10-2 lead. The Big Red scored the first three goals of the second half and never looked back.
GAME NOTES
- Patterson is the fifth Statesman to score three goals in a game this season.
- Valent has won 65.5% of his faceoffs this season (19-29).
- Senior Anthony Dattellas scored a fourth quarter goal to extend his point scoring streak to 15 games. He's scored a goal in five consecutive games.
- Tonight's game was the 141st meeting between Hobart and Cornell. It's the most contested series in collegiate lacrosse.
UP NEXT
- The Statesmen will return home to face Robert Morris (1-2) at 2 p.m. Saturday, March 2.
