MOUNT VERNON – Cornell's upset attempt against NACC unbeaten Lake Forest got away in the second quarter of Saturday's 14-9 women's lacrosse loss on Senior Day at Van Metre Field at Ash Park.
 
The first-place Foresters (11-4 overall, 8-0 NACC) broke open a tight contest with a 6-2 second-period surge and took a 9-4 lead into intermission. The Rams (7-7 overall, 5-3 NACC) battled even with the visitors over the final 30 minutes.
 
Despite the setback, coach Meredith Meier's fourth-place Rams clinched a berth in the six-team NACC Tournament, which begins next weekend.
 
Cornell can secure a first-round home game with a win at Aurora (10-6 overall, 7-1 NACC) Wednesday. Start time is 4 p.m.
 
Junior defender Ilsa Jeffery became Cornell's new school-record holder for caused turnovers in a season with 50. She collected four caused turnovers Saturday, breaking the previous mark of 49 set by India Smith in 2024.
 
Sabrina Ibanez paced Cornell's attack with three assists and one goal. Senior Cece Zanoni, the program's all-time scoring leader, contributed two goals and one assist in her final regular-season home game.
 
Brynn Miroslavich and Ava Ferencz also netted two goals apiece for the Rams, while Meg Lewis and Natalie Hudgins each scored once.
 
Hudgins' free-position goal tied the game at 4-4 early in the second quarter. The Foresters responded with six consecutive goals to build a 10-4 lead early in the third.
 
Kathryn Andries earned the Senior Day start at goalie and posted four saves over 30 minutes. Hannah Miech worked the second half and tallied five saves.
 
Prior to the game, Cornell recognized a successful senior class of Zanoni, Lewis, Andries, Tess Cooper and Elissafe Moreno. They have the Rams postseason-bound for the third year in a row.