Colorado University Athletics
Colorado
3-0, 0-0
Cornell
0-1, 0-0
Buffaloes Batter Big Red in Home Opener, 8-5
February 15, 2026 | Lacrosse
BOULDER – Colorado opened its 2026 home season with an 8-5 decision over the visiting Cornell Big Red at Kittredge Field on Sunday.
The Buffaloes move to 2-0 in the young season, avoiding any let-down from their season-opening upset of No. 2 Northwestern last Monday.
"It was huge for us to find a way," head coach Anne Elliott Whidden expressed. "I don't think [it was] our best game. We knew Cornell was going to come in here—they're tough, scrappy, athletic and they compete for everything. I think we got shown what that looks like and what we need to improve on ourselves."
Teagan Ryan led the Buffs' offense on Sunday, notching her sixth career hat trick. Jaimey Hill, Maddie Shoup, Lily Assini and Averi Gardner all found the back of the net for Colorado.
"I feel like the way that I play is all dependent on my teammates," Ryan commented. "I wouldn't be able to score out there without them. All the feeds, they keep their heads up; I work off my other teammates. The best part about it is that, really, it's just a team effort out there."
Defensively, Colorado caused 21 turnovers, the most since forcing 22 to open the season last year against Stanford (Feb. 13, 2025). Molly Reed led the charge with four caused turnovers, while Jess Peluso had two caused turnovers and four ground balls.
"It's nice when you can rely on getting stops and making saves," Whidden added. "I think it allows you a little more freedom on how we're playing offensively, not constantly putting pressure on ourselves that we have to do something. At the same time, I think in this fourth quarter, there were moments we could have done things better that were within our control, and we'll learn from those and get better."
Cornell (0-1) had five different goal scorers on the day.
How it Happened
The Buffs opened with a dominant first quarter, outshooting the Big Red 8-1 in the period. CU scored the game's first three goals with Shoup opening the scoring with a free-position goal less than three minutes into the game. Ryan scored back-to-back tallies to put the Buffs up 3-0 early inside the first 33 seconds of the second quarter.
Cornell scored its first goal of the day with 13:22 to play in the third quarter, but CU answered with goals from Assini and Hill to jump back ahead, 5-1 at the half.
CU outshot Cornell 14-3 in the first half, landing five shots on goal. CU was also 10-for-11 on clear attempts in the first 30 minutes.
Only two goals combined were scored in the third quarter, with Cornell's Lilly Whaling and Gardner for the Buffs finding the net. Gardner's goal pushed the CU lead to 6-2 with 5:12 to play, but CU's offense was kept to just the one shot on goal in the quarter.
The Big Red then scored two unanswered goals from Ellie Bergin and Lexie Tully to get back within two, 6-4, with 11:47 to play. Cornell outshot Colorado 6-4 in the final quarter, but the Buffs were able to get two back on the board from Hill and Ryan to take an 8-4 lead with 5:05 to play.
"I think for us it was just controlling what we could control," Whidden noted about Cornell's comeback. "We were able to get the ball, we were able to score a couple of goals to put ourselves back up, and I think that matters. I think we could have been a little cleaner on the offensive end and a little more disciplined, but overall, I think we took advantage and made the plays when we needed to."
CU's defense quieted the Cornell comeback, allowing just one final goal in the final five minutes to secure the win.
Notes
Colorado is now 1-0 all-time against Cornell…Ryan scored her first hat trick of the season, sixth of her career…CU lost the draw control battle, 9-6…Colorado was two better in groundballs, 17-15…Peluso led the game in ground balls with four, moving her into ninth all-time in CU history (84)…Elena Oh made five saves, bringing her career total to 96…Shoup has now scored in 13 consecutive games…Assini has had a point in 18 consecutive games and a goal in her last nine….
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