ITHACA, N.Y. – The nationally 14th-ranked Cortland women's lacrosse team scored five of the last six goals in the game to erase a three-goal deficit and defeated 10th-ranked Ithaca, 9-8, Wednesday afternoon. The Red Dragons improved to 1-0, while the Bombers fell to 1-1.

Graduate student Hannah Keech (Penn Yan/Penn Yan Academy) tallied a game-high four goals to lead the Cortland offense. Sophomore Gabby Meager (Syracuse/West Genesee) tallied three goals and an assist to match Keech's four points. Graduate student Lauren Hopsicker (Burnt Hills/Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake) and junior Toni Cashman (Est Moriches/Westhampton Beach) each recorded a goal and an assist.

Freshman goalie Margaret Morgan (New Fairfield, CT) made four saves, collected six ground balls and caused two turnovers in her Cortland debut. Freshman Rachel Rempe (Aquebogue/Riverhead) won three draws, and junior Holly Wright (Huntington Station/Huntington) caused two turnovers.

Sydney Phillips paced Ithaca's offense with three goals. Chloe Nordyke scored twice. Maizy Veitch recorded one goal and two assists, Caroline Wise and Maddie Hall each netted a goal and Hayley Armstrong and Phoebe Hosford collected two assists apiece.

Goalie Lexi Held registered eight saves. Hosford added five ground balls and five caused turnovers, Liney  Dutchyshyn recorded three ground balls and two caused turnovers and Wise secured five draws.

Cortland jumped out to a 3-0 lead with goals from Meager, Hopsicker and Keech. Nordyke made it a 3-1 score before Meager closed the first quarter with her second goal of the game. Ithaca dominated the second quarter, outscoring the Red Dragons, 5-0, to grab a 6-4 lead at the half. Five different players scored for the Bombers.

Ithaca increased its lead to 7-4 on a goal from Phillips to open the third quarter, but Cortland responded with a pair of goals from Keech to pull to within 7-6 after 45 minutes of play. Meager tied the game at 12:14 of the fourth quarter, and Keech put the Red Dragons ahead, 8-7, at the 11:25 mark. Phillips tied the game again at 6:31 before Cashman scored what proved to be the game winner with 4:07 remaining. Morgan protected the lead when she made a save with 1:12 remaining, allowing Cortland to run out the clock and seal the 9-8 victory.

Cortland 9, Ithaca 8

Team                     1-2-3-4       Final
Cortland                4-0-2-3            9
Ithaca                    1-5-1-1            8

Scoring (Goals-Assists):
Cortland: Hannah Keech 4-0, Gabby Meager 3-1, Toni Cashman 1-1, Lauren Hopsicker 1-1
Ithaca: Sydney Phillips 3-0, Chloe Nordyke 2-0, Maizy Veitch 1-2, Caroline Wise 1-0, Maddie Hall 1-0, Hayley Armstrong 0-2, Phoebe Hosford 0-2

Goalkeepers:
Cortland: Margaret Morgan, 4 saves (8 GA in 60:00)
Ithaca: Lexi Held, 8 saves (9 GA in 60:00)

Shots: Ithaca 24, Cortland 23
Ground Balls: Ithaca 16, Cortland 15
Clears: Cortland 16-of-20, Ithaca 14-of-18
Draw Controls: Ithaca 11, Cortland 10
Caused Turnovers: Cortland 11, Ithaca 10
Turnovers: Ithaca 18, Cortland 17

Records after game: Cortland (Red Dragons) 1-0 (ranked 14th nationally in Div. III); Ithaca (Bombers) 1-1 (ranked 10th nationally in Div. III)