2012 Schedule
2012 Roster
2012 Quick Facts

ITHACA, N.Y. – Coming off a year where it finished 6-8 but defeated No. 2 Florida in its final game of the season, the Cornell women's lacrosse team is ready to make a push in 2012.

With a group of 29 players that wants to attack and start games fast, the Big Red will be going full steam ahead and vying for a berth in the Ivy League tournament that it missed out on in 2011.

“Every game is precious,” 15th-year head coach Jenny Graap said. “No one on our team is complacent. No one thinks that anything is going to come easily in 2012.”

Graap's group lost just two seniors to graduation, and this season's senior class is nine strong. The 2012 edition of Cornell women's lacrosse looks to be a tough, experienced group with a talented roster all around that will compete in the Ivy League this season.

ATTACK

Cornell returns 59 goals from its 2011 pure attackers. At the helm of the Cornell attack this season will be senior Jessi Steinberg. The second-year captain led all Big Red scorers last year with 38 goals and also added four assists for 42 total points. She has made the All-Ivy League First-Team each of the past two seasons, and her presence on the field commands attention from opposing defenses. She makes savvy moves to the goal, is excellent at dodging and has precision footwork.

“She's going to have a more seasoned group around her, and I think she's going to have the addition of some young talent that will make our entire offense more dynamic,” Graap said.

The rest of the Cornell attack starts with fellow senior Olivia Knotts. Knotts is patient and poised as one of the Big Red's most reliable attackers. Knotts, who is becoming a crease specialist, will lead the team from behind the goal.

“She's a threat herself, but she also is extremely humble, extremely unselfish and she knows how to set her teammates up,” Graap said of Knotts. “She's creative and crafty off-ball and she's a very important part of the offense.”

A pair of juniors in Caroline Salisbury and Veronica Lizzio will bolster the offense as well. Salisbury is one of the program's strongest athletes, and her shot is capable of ripping nets. She grew leaps and bounds as a sophomore, and her junior campaign should be an exciting one.

Lizzio continues to improve with quickness and speed as well as a formidable left-handed attack. Her passion, heart and desire will contribute to the Cornell offense this season.

Sophomore Rachel Moody follows in the footsteps of Knotts in that she is a behind-the-net attacker. She has excellent vision and feeding abilities and will look to get more playing time in her second year.

Freshman Lindsay Toppe is an exciting offensive threat who will challenge for playing time right away. With a quick release on her shot that she can take with her right or left hand, Toppe is a confident finisher who could make the Big Red attack extra potent.

ATTACKING MIDFIELDERS

Leading the way for Cornell's combo midfielder/attackers is Shannon Tierney. The senior had four goals and two assists last season for the Big Red, seeing significant time in the midfield as a two-way player. Graap hopes the 2012 season could be her breakout year.

After a semester abroad in the spring of 2011, junior Lauren Halpern returns to boost the Cornell midfield and attack. As a freshman in 2010, she scored five goals and three assists. Halpern is one of four players who have made the wall of honor in the strength and conditioning department, and she combines quickness with her strength to form an explosive attacking potential.

Two sophomores are also designated as both midfielders and attackers. Amanda D'Amico started to shine at the end of her freshman year with her agility and quickness. D'Amico can maneuver in small spaces and has plenty of room to grow as a sophomore. Also in her second year with the Big Red is Jessie Smith. Smith has moments of brilliance on the field and will continue to develop her offense and defense this season.

MIDFIELD

Anchoring the Cornell midfield are two senior captains who combined for 39 goals and 43 draw controls last season.
Shannon McHugh was an All-Ivy Honorable mention last year after scoring 17 goals, causing 13 turnovers and picking up 18 ground balls. One of the most competitive athletes in the program, McHugh can play tough defense and threaten in the attacking end with her speed. She loves to shoot and is always making huge plays.

“Her leadership and focus and her drive set the bar for the team,” Graap said.

Also a senior captain in the midfield is Katie Kirk. She made the All-Ivy Second Team in 2011 thanks in part to her 22 goals and 19 ground balls. She scored two game-winners last season and controlled 19 draws. Kirk has been named the team's best all-around player since her freshman year. She is a player who has a knack for big moments and is an excellent teammate with unselfish play.

“She's the kind of player we want to have on the field every minute of every game,” Graap said. “She's a huge part of this team's success.”

Playing a big role in the Cornell midfield this season will be junior Kelly Lang. A returning starter who continues to get better, Lang is a gifted athlete whose older brother Roy plays on the men's team. Lang has an excellent work ethic and speed, and she has the confidence to tap into her potential even more in 2012.

Sophomore Chelsea Rowe could also be in line for a breakout season. An intense, competitive player, Rowe will contribute on the draw control and on the attack while bringing depth to the midfield.

A pair of freshmen rounds out the Big Red midfield. Claire MacManus played soccer during the fall, and her defensive strengths may shine early on in her first year. She has the potential to see playing time right away. Freshman Sarah Hefner has a great stick and excellent instincts. She is a mature and capable player who will also see time this year.

DEFENSIVE MIDFIELDERS

Atop Cornell's players who can be used as defenders and midfielders is senior Ali O'Neil. Coming off a terrific 2011 season where she had 20 ground balls and caused seven turnovers, O'Neil continues to get stronger and better. A confident player and a loud communicator, she is also the sister of men's team midfielder Mike O'Neil. Her career has improved in each of its three years.

“This would be great if it was the culminating best year,” Graap said. “She's going to be in that lineup. We need her to continue to step up.”

Also a senior in the defensive midfield, Beth Halayko brings height and strength to that group. She is a fast athlete whose career trajectory has gone up each year. As a junior, she earned two assists while also picking up eight ground balls. Halayko could also have some runs into the attacking end.

Junior Kate Ivory had an outstanding sophomore campaign where she recorded 37 ground balls to lead the team in that category. She played tenacious lacrosse, was seen hustling everywhere on the field and was rewarded with a spot on the All-Ivy First Team.

Rounding out this position is freshman Skylar Fidel. Her best attribute is her incredible speed, as she runs the mile in under six minutes. Fidel has exciting potential and will look to grow as her first year in Ithaca goes on.

DEFENSE

Cornell's pure defenders are a young group headed by two-time captain Cacki Helmer. The senior picked up 23 ground balls last season and caused nine turnovers as the backbone of the defensive unit. She is experienced and technically sound in all aspects of the game as well as an emotional leader. She was an Ivy League honorable mention in 2011.

“The kid is a rock,” Graap said. “We're fortunate to have her no matter who joins in on the backfield. She's always the mentor, the one that brings people along and keeps the unit cohesive. She's up for the task.”

Behind Helmer is a pair of sophomores in Cat Thomas and Nicole Drake. Thomas is one of the team's fastest players who did an outstanding job in the Florida game to end last year. She is tough for attackers to beat and has an exciting future. Drake also has quickness and good bursts of speed. An aggressive and scrappy player, Drake will look to grow more in her sophomore season.

A trio of freshmen is new to Cornell's defense this season. Kristen Carr has good size and athleticism to go along with her developing talent. Christine Ferguson has international experience and a gold medal with Team USA in the U-19 World Cup last summer. A great crease player and excellent communicator, Ferguson projects well for the future. Gabby Weintraub adds depth to the defensive unit and will also be looking to improve in her freshman season.

GOALKEEPERS

The Big Red's starting goalkeeper from 2011 returns in senior Kyla Dambach. She had some terrific games last season and finished the year with a goals against average of 10.76 and a .398 save percentage. She has the ability to be a terrific goaltender this season, as she sees the field well and is a great commander of the defense in front of her. A mature and reliable option in net, Dambach should see plenty of action in 2012.

Behind Dambach is Courtney Gallagher. The junior saw time in six games last season, recording a goals against average of 8.12 and a .382 save percentage. Gallagher is improving constantly on her clear and distributes the ball well. She scraps for ground balls and is becoming more agile and confident in and around the crease.

New to the goaltender corps this year is freshman Carly Gneiwek. A tall, capable first-year player, Gneiwek is steady in the net and has responded well to coaching so far. She has a personality suited for the position and can handle the pressure. With stellar performances in fall ball, Gneiwek may challenge for playing time as well.

SCHEDULE

Cornell's challenging schedule this season features four games against NCAA tournament teams from 2011 and six teams who finished the year in the national top 20.

“Our players and coaches are looking forward to the competition that awaits this spring,” Graap said. “Playing in the Ivy League is intense, and we hope to fight our way back to the top of our conference in the months ahead.  We added a few new opponents in 2012, and we welcome the challenge of each and every contest.”

Highlights from the schedule include a two-game trip to Florida in mid-March for games against Notre Dame and Jacksonville. The Notre Dame contest, on March 17, will be held at Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex. The Big Red will travel to Jacksonville for a game on the campus of Jacksonville University three days later.

Cornell's non-conference schedule gets underway with a pre-season scrimmage against Penn State in Ithaca on February 12 followed by the season opener at Rutgers on Feb. 25.  In addition to the Scarlet Knights, Cornell faces two more Big East powerhouses in Syracuse and Loyola. Colgate (March 7) is a familiar regional rival, while both Canisius (March 13) and Binghamton (April 24) are new matchups for the Big Red in New York.

Cornell kicks off its Ivy League schedule on March 3 with a trip to Harvard and then hosts its first conference game the next weekend when Columbia comes to town. The team then takes the next two weeks to play Canisius, Notre Dame and Jacksonville before returning to Ithaca for an Ivy League battle against Penn on March 24.

Conference play continues with a game at Princeton on March 31, and that contest is followed by four consecutive home games. Two of those games – against Dartmouth on April 7 and Yale on April 21, will be crucial in Cornell's quest for another Ivy League title. After the Binghamton game, Cornell closes its regular season conference play at Brown on April 28th.

As May begins, so does the Ivy League Tournament. The four-team field will compete from May 4-6 to determine the conference automatic qualifier to the 2012 NCAA Women's Lacrosse Championship.