With the first full week of classes under way, the field hockey team will get its season started with a two-game road trip against Patriot League foes Lehigh and Lafayette.
The Red started off last season with victories, 3-1 and 2-0 respectively, over the two squads, and hope to repeat the fast start in 2007.
Historically the Red has done very well against Lehigh, amassing a 14-1-1 record. However, the Red has not been as successful in the past against Lafayette finishing 4-12-2 in all past matches.
While this is the season opener for Cornell, Lehigh had its first game of the season against Temple last weekend, losing 3-1. Sunday’s game against Lafayette will be Lafayette’s season opener.
“We need to make sure we take this one game at a time and don’t get ahead of ourselves,” said junior co-captain Belen Martinez. “We have a very deep team this year and we can definitely improve on our record from last year.”
The Red finished last year with a 7-9 overall (4-3 Ivy) record, which placed them in a tie for second in the Ivies. The only way up from there is an Ivy championship.
The squad has gained even more depth since last year including the addition of new assistant coach Mary McCracken as well as a strong incoming class of freshman.
McCracken brings a wealth of experience to the Red, after holding the position of associate head coach at Syracuse University. While with the Orange, McCracken coached the team to the NCAA championships on three separate occasions and also won four Big East championships.
“The experience that Mary brings to the team is incredible,” Martinez said. “She really fits the team well and I think she is already doing an excellent job.”
The two captains that will lead the squad into the first match of the season are Martinez and senior co-captain Katie Bradshaw. Bradshaw is the only three-time letter winner on field hockey this season and her experience will help the Red tremendously.
Martinez and junior Katlyn Donoghue both earned second-team All-Ivy honors honors last season for their spectacular play and hope to keep this momentum going into this year.
Head coach Donna Hornibrook is entering her fourth season as coach of the Red and has amassed a 20-29 overall record including two straight 4-3 Ivy records. It is the first time the squad has posted back-to-back winning seasons in the Ivy League. Hornibrook has been able to successfully turn the team around in her tenure as head coach, and now hopes to continue this with an Ivy League crown this season.
“We only have two seniors so we’re still a young team,” Hornibrook said. “But we’re balanced, have more depth and have strong incoming freshman.”