MOUNT VERNON – A historic day with Cornell's women's lacrosse team hosting its first-ever playoff game ended in an 11-10 nail-biting loss to MSOE in the quarterfinals of the NACC Tournament Saturday afternoon at Van Metre Field at Ash Park.
 
The see-saw battle saw the No. 4 seed Rams hold a two-goal lead early in the fourth quarter, although Cornell couldn't hold on in the season-ending setback to the visiting No. 5 seed Raiders of MSOE.
 
The Rams finished a successful campaign 7-9 overall under 10th-year head coach Meredith Meier. Cornell placed fourth in the NACC at 5-4 as a first-year member in the league.
 
MSOE (6-11) advances to Wednesday's semifinal to face No. 1 seed Lake Forest in Lake Forest, Ill.
 
Trailing 8-6 early in the third quarter, Cornell charged back with four unanswered goals scored by four different players to grab momentum. Sabrina Ibanez put the Rams ahead 10-8 off Cece Zanoni's 29th assist of the season with 13:51 remaining in regulation.
 
The Raiders responded with a goal 22 seconds later and then tied it at 10-10 at the 11:57 mark. MSOE completed its three-goal flurry by netting the go-ahead goal with 10:37 remaining.
 
Neither team led by more than two goals in the tightly-contested game.
 
Cornell received two goals apiece from senior Meg Lewis and first-years Natalie Hudgins and Ava Ferencz. Hailey Sieler, Brynn Miroslavich, Ibanez and Cheyenne Greenenwald all found the back of the net once. Ibanez also collected two assists and four draw controls.
 
Miroslavich posted a team-high six ground balls and Ilsa Jeffery led the Rams with three caused turnovers. Junior goalie Hannah Miech recorded 11 saves in a complete-game effort.
 
Chloe Ninmann had three goals to pace MSOE, which outshot the Rams 36-21.