Senior David Lau netted four goals and junior Rob Pannell added two more and two assists, as Cornell Lacrosse handed visiting Hartford an early ticket home in the opening round of the NCAA Division I Men’s Lacrosse National Tournament.
Coming into the match up with a 10-game winning streak and one week after capturing its first Ivy League Tournament Championship, the Big Red showed no signs of slowing down. Before a faithful crowd at Schoellkopf Stadium Saturday evening, the team used a balanced, overpowering attack to knock off the Hawks – the America East champions.
Cornell got off to a rocky start, as Hartford jumped out to an early 3-1 lead behind stellar play from senior face-off specialist Tim Fallon. Cornell responded with six unanswered goals due in large part to a pair of goals and an assist from Pannell (39 goals, 47 assists), one of five Tewaaraton Trophy finalists. The trophy, whose winner is announced early next month, is awarded annually to the top player in the country.
The Big Red also received goals from junior JJ Gilbane, junior Roy Lang, junior Mitch McMichael, and sophomore Steve Mock. Goalie AJ Fiore had a consistent day in net.
Hartford’s Fallon, who averages 63% in face-offs, was held in check, winning only 11 of the 21 face-offs tonight.
Cornell now heads to James M. Shuart Stadium at Hofstra University in Hempstead, NY for a quarterfinal matchup next Saturday. The Big Red will face the winner of #7 Virginia (9-5) and Bucknell (14-2), who face off tomorrow. The Virginia Cavaliers are the last team to defeat Cornell.
The ultimate destination, however, is in Baltimore for Memorial Day, where the team will look to bring home the national championship for the first time since 1977.
