Villanova, Pa. - Cornell will travel to the Main Line to face the Villanova Wildcats on Saturday afternoon. This will be Cornell's first game in 715 days, after the Ivy League shut down all games due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Wildcats and Big Red have met five times previously, with the Big Red posting a 4-1 record in those games. They last met in the 2020 season, when Villanova traveled to Ithaca, New York and lost by a final score of 13-11.
Villanova returns home in search of their first win of the season. In their last match, against No. 22 Temple, a trio of seniors carried the offensive load, scoring all seven goals.
Libby McKenna led the way, with three scores, while
Caroline Curnal and
Alexa Tsahalis each added two.
Setting the tempo for Villanova is the senior midfielder Curnal, who has 20 draw controls through two games, leading the BIG EAST. Defenders
Molly Dunphey and
Hanna Driscoll each have three caused turnovers this season.
Over the last 24 seasons, under head coach Jenny Graap, the Big Red have gone 19-5 in season openers. While coaching her alma mater, Graap led the program to a 4-2 record during the 2020 season, before the season was canceled.
Returning this season for Cornell are graduate students Reilly Fletcher and Katie McGahan, and senior Ciara Frawley, all of whom were voted captains.
The game is scheduled for 12 PM and will be streamed on FloSports.
