ITHACA, N.Y. - Despite a two goal last effort chance in the final minute of play, the Columbia lacrosse team dropped a heartbreaking 9-7 loss to Cornell in its Ivy League opener on Wednesday, March 10.  The Lions trailed by one at the half, but the Big Red used a three-goal run late in the game to pull away for the win.

Karlee Blank had 12 saves including eight in the first half.  Sophomores Taylor Gattinella and Sarah Avallone each had a pair of goals, while first-year Kacie Johnson had two goals and an assist.  Amanda Goodhart led the defense with three caused turnovers.

Columbia found itself in a three-goal hole but roared its way back to tie it at 3-3, prompting a Cornell timeout. Johnson fired back-to-back goals before Gattinella converted on an eight-meter shot less than a minute later to knot the score at three all.

Three minutes later Cornell reclaimed the lead on a bounce shot by Jessi Steinberg.  Blank had made the initial save, but Steinberg picked up the rebound in front of the cage and managed to put it away.

Gabrielle Geronimos had a chance to tie it with two minutes to play in the half, but the Kyla Dambach came up with a huge stop to preserve the Big Red's 4-3 lead heading into the break.

The Lions came out strong to begin the second stanza, winning the opening draw to set up an unassisted tally by Gattinella 55 seconds into the half.

Cornell took a 6-4 lead with a pair of goals at 13:05 and 11:47 to play, but Columbia's Olivia Mann won the ensuing draw control leading to an unassisted goal by Avallone at 11:10 to pull the Lions within one.

Blank had another point blank save with 6:06 remaining in the game, but Steinburg picked up the loose ball and put it away, prompting a three goal run by the Big Red.

But Columbia wasn't done.  Goodhart caused a turnover in the defensive end and hit Avallone who ran the length of the field and beat Dambach to the lower left corner with 42 seconds remaining.  After winning the next draw control, the Lions cut the lead to two when Johnson found Geronimos in front to make it 9-7.  However, Cornell came up with a key draw control and ran out the clock to hold on for a 9-7 win over the Lions.

Columbia (2-1, 0-1 Ivy League) returns to action on Wednesday, March 17 when its travels to Hanover, N.H. for an Ivy League matchup against Dartmouth at noon.