MOUNT VERNON – Cornell opens a new women's lacrosse season with its first February home game in six years.
 
The Rams, directed by seventh-year head coach Meredith Merce, play host to Spalding (Ky.) University in a nonconference contest at 11 a.m. Sunday at Van Metre Field at Ash Park.
 
It's the first of eight home games this season for an experienced Cornell squad, which brings back 10 starters and welcomes eight first-year players to the program.
 
"Our team cohesion and chemistry is really good," Merce said. "Staying healthy and playing with consistency will be the biggest factors to our team's success. It's a fun group to be around. They want to be with each other."
 
The Rams have a goal to reach the four-team Midwest Women's Lacrosse Tournament for the first time in the program's eighth year. Cornell is projected fifth in the MWLC Preseason Coaches' Poll. The Rams received 10 points, one behind fourth-place Wartburg. 
 
Senior attackers Sydney Swift, Nina Deer and senior defender Ellie Nestingen have been voted team captains. They are among 10 returning letterwinners who were primary starters last spring, when the Rams finished 3-7 overall, 0-6 in the MWLC.
 
Deer was the team's top scorer with 23 goals and eight assists a year ago. She also led the Rams with 33 ground balls. Deer stands fourth on the program's all-time scoring list with 66 points and ranks fifth with 53 career goals.
 
Swift, also a fourth-year contributor, adds offensive punch with 40 career goals. She scored 17 times last season.
 
Sophomore Anna Methe and senior Raquel Gassmann accounted for 14 and nine points, respectively. Methe was among the team leaders with 24 draw controls. Nestingen tallied 30 ground balls and a team-best 12 caused turnovers.
 
Maddie Althoff has three years of experience at goalie, notching 85 saves in 2021. The senior is only 36 saves shy of Cornell's career record.
 
Senior Seanne Bialo, junior Sydney King and sophomores Cheyenne Greenenwald and Molly Hallett round out the returning letterwinners.
 
Merce expects a promising group of newcomers to make an impact this season, led by sophomore transfer India Smith and freshman attacker Cece Zanoni.
 
Cornell opens MWLC play April 1 at Augsburg. The MWLC Tournament is May 4-7.