HOUGHTON, N.Y. – The nationally 18th-ranked Cortland field hockey team opened up a 3-0 lead at the half and went on to a 4-1 victory at Houghton Wednesday in non-conference action. The Red Dragons improved to 3-2 with the win, while the Highlanders fell to 2-3.

Senior Jess Gibaldi (Westbury/W.T. Clarke) led the Cortland offense with two first-half goals. Junior Molly Quinlan (Fayetteville/Fayetteville-Manlius) tallied a goal and an assist, and junior Hannah Burchell (Whitney Point) scored what proved to be the game-winning goal early in the game. Senior Jessica Welsh (Hamilton), sophomore Valerie Brillaud (Nesconset/Smithtown East) and Allie Bianchi (Richmond, VT/Mount Mansfield Union) each chipped in with an assist.

Senior goalie Kailynne Reinoehl (Lititz, PA/Warwick) registered three saves for the Red Dragons with junior Sara Reardon (Little Falls) contributing a defensive save.

Caitlin Jennings scored for Houghton off an assist from Beth Wagner. Goalie Sarah Olandt made nine saves, and Leanne Plunkett was credited with a defensive save.

Burchell started the scoring with her third goal of the season at the 16:41 mark. Gibaldi then netted back-to-back goals just over two minutes apart to send the Red Dragons into intermission with a 3-0 lead. Jennings cut Houghton's deficit to 3-1 6:31 into the second half, but Quinlan completed the scoring with a one-time shot at 44:17 and Cortland held the 4-1 lead the remainder of the half. 
 
Cortland 4, Houghton 1

Scoring Summary (Goals-Assists):
Cortland: Jess Gibaldi 2-0, Molly Quinlan 1-1, Hannah Burchell 1-0, Jessica Welsh 0-1, Valerie Brillaud 0-1, Allie Bianchi 0-1
Houghton: Caitlin Jennings 1-0, Beth Wagner 0-1 

Halftime: Cortland 3, Houghton 0
Shots: Cortland 22, Houghton 6
Penalty Corners: Cortland 11, Houghton 3
Saves: Kailynne Reinoehl (Cortland) 3 (1 GA in 70:00), Sarah Olandt (Houghton) 9 (4 GA in 70:00)

Record after game: Cortland (Red Dragons) 3-2 (ranked 18th in Div. III), Houghton (Highlanders) 2-3