NEW YORK -- The Columbia lacrosse team (3-2) opened up its Ivy League schedule on Saturday afternoon, with a matinee against the #23 Penn Quakers at Robert K. Kraft Field. In a very competitive first half, Penn held just a slight 6-5 edge heading into the locker room but used a massive third quarter barrage to break the game open. The Quakers would go on to win 17-7. 

Cecelia Messner and Dani Falcone each had two goals to lead the way for the Lions. Sophie Zachara, Kate Cunning, and Ellie Taylor each chipped in one goal.

The Quakers struck first, but Messner had a quick answer for the Lions, finding the back of the net five minutes in to tie things up at 1-1. 

From there, it was a lot of trading goals between Penn and Columbia for the rest of the first half. The Quakers would take a two goal lead, but the Lions would not let them pull away and find a way to cut their deficit back to one. This continued up until when Penn took a 6-4 lead, but Columbia cut it back to 6-5 prior to the end of the half on a free-position goal from Messner. 

The Quakers seized control of the game in the third quarter, scoring five goals, while allowing just one Lion goal. Penn also just allowed one goal in the fourth quarter, allowing them to pull away with a 17-7 win.

Goalkeeper Ella Sangree had 15 saves for the second consecutive game. Senior defender Adèle Swanson led the Lions with eight ground balls. Taylor and Zachara both had a team-high three draw controls. Cunning and Justine Decker both had two caused turnovers to pace Columbia. 
 
In exactly a week, the Lions will be right back at Robert K. Kraft field and continue Ivy League play against Cornell on Saturday afternoon. The first draw is scheduled for 1 p.m.

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