ITHACA, N.Y. — The Cornell women’s polo team rallied from a 9-2 first-half deficit to rally past New Hampshire 12-11 on Sunday afternoon at the Oxley Equestrian Center to claim the Northeast Women’s D2 Regional Championship. The Big Red improved to 12-5 and qualified for nationals in the process.
Lara Chong scored eight goals, including the final two in the fourth that lifted Cornell past the Wildcats. Naomi Marlough added three goals, including a two-pointer that brought the home team within 10-9 entering the fourth chukker. Ava Ramachandran added a fourth-chukker goal that knotted the score at 10-10 before UNH regained the lead to set up Chong’s heroics.
Chong and Marlough were voted tournament All-Stars by the coaches, while Ramachandran was chosen to receive the Sportsmanship Award.
The Big Red advanced to the finals with a 23-2 triumph over UConn on Saturday in the semifinal.
The D2 National Championships will be held in Ithaca at Oxley Equestrian Center from April 9-13.