Sept. 3, 2006

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EASTON, Pa. (www.lafayette.edu) - A Lafayette comeback fell just short on Sunday as the Leopards lost to Cornell 3-2 in non-conference action. The game marked the season-opener and first contest under head coach Mick Statham.

The Big Red used two first-half goals from Caitlin Oliver and Allison McEwen, and the eventual game-winner from Eva Dixon in the 69th minute to hold off the Lafayette rally.

Trailing 2-0 in the 55th minute, the Leopards used a corner kick to set-up their first goal of the season. Megan Hillin took the pass off the corner kick and sneaked the ball just inside the far post to cut the Cornell lead in half. After Dixon put the Big Red up 3-1, Lafayette countered seven minutes later when senior Kelli McMahon ripped a shot from about 25 yards out, beating the diving Cornell goalkeeper Jessica Lebo and into the back of the net.

Lafayette junior goalkeeper Mary Kate Erdman had five saves on the day.

The loss left Statham happy with the effort, but still realizing the room for improvement.

"I was encouraged by our second-half performance and how we competed," Statham said. "Hopefully on Tuesday, we will continue where we left off in that second-half, and put 90 minutes together."

The Leopards will have their first road test of the 2006 season when they travel to Emmitsburg, Md. to battle Mount St. Mary's at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 5.