MOUNT VERNON – Cornell's women's lacrosse team continued its torrid start to the season with an 18-2 victory over short-handed Culver-Stockton Tuesday afternoon at Van Metre Field at Ash Park.
 
The Rams improved to 3-0 on their home turf and bumped their season record to 7-1, all against nonconference foes.
 
Junior Cece Zanoni registered her 100th career goal in her 40th game, joining Sydney Cooper (114 goals from 2015-18) as the only Rams to reach the milestone. Zanoni achieved the feat on her fourth goal Tuesday with 38 seconds left in regulation.  
 
Cornell kept the scoreboard operator busy in the early going against the Wildcats (2-3), striking for eight first-quarter goals and padding the margin to 10-0 with 13:20 left in the opening half before the continuous clock came into effect.  
 
Senior India Smith started her big day with a pair of goals in the initial two minutes. The reigning Midwest Lacrosse Conference Defensive Performer of the Week finished with six goals and two assists, boosting her team-high goals total to 33 for the spring.
 
Sabrina Ibanez tallied four goals and two assists. Anna Methe scored three times and Meg Lewis once for the Rams, who attempted 19 of their 29 shots before intermission.
 
First-year Madelyn Sheets led the Rams with five ground balls and three caused turnovers. Lewis won seven draw controls.
 
The Rams led 14-0 before the Wildcats finally scored with 2:32 remaining in the third quarter. Goalie Hannah Miech worked 45 minutes to earn her seventh win of the season. Kathryn Andries allowed one goal in the fourth period.
 
Coming up – Cornell concludes a three-game homestand Saturday with a 2 p.m. matchup against Illinois Tech (2-4).