After defeating Skidmore on Wednesday, the men’s polo team advanced to the semifinals of the Bill Field Invitational, where it played Texas A&M on Friday.

However, the Red was unable to avenge its 2009 national semifinals defeat at the hands of the Aggies, as Cornell was outscored, 18-12. The loss was the Red’s first loss at the Oxley Equestrian Center, and dropped its season record to 6-2.Line it up!: The men’s polo team goes on the offensive during an 18-14 win at the Oxley Equestrian Center last spring.

The Red found itself in an early hole, as it ended the first chukker behind, 5-1. Cornell made a run in the second, but the Aggies countered, and maintained their lead, 9-6, at the half. The Red was never able to overtake the Aggies in the third and fourth chukkers.

Head coach Dave Eldredge attributed his team’s loss to inexperience.

“Texas A&M is an experienced team,” he said. “Our team has youth.”

He said that this inexperience resulted in fouls, which led to Texas A&M penalty goals.

Eldredge was particularly upset by these penalty goals, because they came after his team “made good plays and good runs,” and effectively, “let [Texas A&M] off the hook.”

Cornell will look to rebound from this loss when it faces Skidmore College on Dec. 4 at Oxley.

Eldredge is hoping that his team improves and gains valuable experience from “game time.”

“My team has the skills,” he said. “It’s just a matter of not committing fouls. Game time allows us to work on that, and improve on our consistency in general.”