MOUNT VERNON – It took some time for the Rams to warm up, but once they did it was all Cornell in an 11-3 home-opening men's lacrosse victory over Concordia Chicago on a frigid Wednesday night at Van Metre Field at Ash Park.
 
The Rams (1-2) controlled possession and had nine players register a point on path to their first win of the season.
 
After a scoreless first period for both teams, Cornell junior Ash Hoelscher broke the ice with an unassisted goal with 11:03 left in the opening half. That started a string of six consecutive goals for the Rams – including back-to-back tallies by freshman Charley Kobets – as Cornell opened a 6-0 lead early in the third period.
 
Concordia (0-3) trimmed the margin to 6-2 before the Rams pulled away with five unanswered goals to start the fourth period, including consecutive scores by junior Matt Norwood.  
 
Luke Baldwin and Kobets paced Cornell's balanced attack with three goals apiece. Kobets also dished two assists. Norwood scored twice, while Hoelscher, Lincoln Warner and Brandon Warnke added one goal apiece for the Rams, who held a decisive 49-18 advantage in total shots.
 
Junior Torii Greiskalns led the defense with eight ground balls and five caused turnovers. Hoelscher posted seven ground balls and won 16-of-17 faceoff chances.
 
Goalie Thomas Cook recorded seven saves in the complete-game victory.
 
Coming up – Cornell is back home Saturday to face Beloit (0-0) in a nonconference matchup at 1 p.m.