THACA, N.Y. – The Cornell women’s polo team held the advantage after the first chukker, but Melinda’s Prospect utilized a big second chukker to take a lead which it would never relinquish, defeating the Big Red, 20-12, on Friday, Oct. 8 at the Oxley Equestrian Center in Ithaca, N.Y.
In its season opener, Cornell came out of the gates hot, scoring five goals in the first chukker, including three from senior Rachel Booth, to take a 5-3 lead. Melinda’s Prospect made up the difference and then some in a dominant second chukker, however, outscoring the Big Red 6-0 to claim a 9-5 lead at the half.
Melinda’s Prospect scored four goals in the third, but a pair of goals by Lea Jih-Vieira and a goal from Jasmine Umrigar kept Cornell within reach, 13-8. Sophie Neis did all she could to keep the Big Red in it in the fourth, scoring all of her team-high four goals in the chukker, but Melinda’s Prospect poured in eight to extend its lead and win the game, 20-12.
Booth and Jih-Vieira finished the contest with three goals apiece, while Umrigar scored two. Melinda’s Prospect’s Anna Palacios scored a game-high 10 goals, accounting for half of Melinda’s Prospects scores.