Cornell men's lacrosse holds off Princeton to stay unbeaten in Ivy play

The Big Red defeated the No. 3 Tigers 13-11 on Saturday to improve to 2-0 in Ivy League competition.

Mar. 21, 2026 at 11:08pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Cornell men's lacrosse built an early 5-4 lead after the first quarter and extended it to 9-6 at halftime before holding off multiple Princeton rallies in the second half to defeat the No. 3 Tigers 13-11 on Saturday. The win improved Cornell's record to 5-2 overall and 2-0 in Ivy League play.

Why it matters

This victory over a highly ranked Princeton squad keeps Cornell undefeated in Ivy League competition and positions the Big Red as a contender for the conference title. The win also boosts Cornell's NCAA tournament resume as they look to secure a postseason berth.

The details

Cornell seized control early, scoring five first-quarter goals to take a 5-4 lead. The Big Red then extended the advantage to 9-4 in the second quarter before Princeton responded late to cut the deficit to 9-6 at halftime. Princeton opened the third quarter with two quick goals, but Cornell answered with three straight scores to regain a four-goal edge at 12-8. The Tigers continued to push, trimming the deficit to 12-10, but Cornell's Ryan Goldstein scored again with 3:31 remaining to provide the separation the Big Red needed to close out the 13-11 victory.

  • Cornell built a 5-4 lead after the first quarter.
  • Cornell extended its lead to 9-6 at halftime.
  • Princeton opened the third quarter with two quick goals to cut the deficit to 12-10.
  • Ryan Goldstein scored with 3:31 remaining to give Cornell a 13-11 lead.

The players

Ryan Goldstein

Goldstein led the Cornell offense with four points on three goals and an assist.

Willem Firth

Firth added five points on two goals and three assists for the Big Red.

Matt Tully

Tully made 15 saves against 43 Princeton shots, anchoring the Cornell defensive effort.

Michael Melkonian

Melkonian won 11 faceoffs to help Cornell control possession.

Princeton

The No. 3 ranked Tigers were defeated by Cornell 13-11 on Saturday.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What’s next

Cornell returns home Saturday, March 28 to face Yale.

The takeaway

Cornell's win over Princeton demonstrates the Big Red's ability to compete with the top teams in the Ivy League and maintain their unbeaten conference record. This result boosts Cornell's postseason aspirations as they look to secure an NCAA tournament berth.