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Cornell Advances to Men's Lacrosse NCAA Quarterfinals with 12-5 win Over Hartford
Courtesy of Cornell Atheltic Communications
ITHACA, N.Y. -- Cornell's defense held Hartford
scoreless for a span of 41:55 after Hartford took an early lead and
advanced to the NCAA quarterfinals with a 12-5 win on Saturday
evening at Schoellkopf Field. The Big Red will meet the winner of
tomorrow's Virginia/Bucknell game at Hofstra's James M. Shuart
Stadium on Saturday, May 21. The second-seeded Big Red
improved to 14-2 with the victory, while Hartford ended the
most successful lacrosse season in school history at
11-7.
David Lau had four goals and an assist and
Tewaaraton Trophy finalist Rob Pannell had two
goals and two assists to lead the offense, but it was the Big Red's
defense that took center stage. The second seed in the 2011 NCAA
tournament surrendered three goals in the first 2:07 of the contest
as the visitors took a 3-1 edge, then ran off nine straight scores
while holding the Hawks scoreless for nearly two full quarters.
The Big Red held a decisive 44-24 edge in shots, including 32-16
over the final three quarters. Cornell also held advantages in
ground balls (44-33) while forcing 22 Hartford turnovers. The Big
Red defense held the Hawks to 0-for-3 on the extra man and forced
six failed clears with their ride. It is Cornell's fourth
quarterfinal appearance in the last five years.
Hartford, making its first NCAA tournament appearance, got a
strong performance from goalkeeper Scott Bement,
who made 16 saves to keep the unseeded Hawks in the contest.
Carter Bender had a pair of scores and Tim
Fallon won 11-of-21 face-offs.
