The Big Red field hockey team (5-2) will look to build momentum on what has been a prosperous begin to its season when it hosts regional foe Colgate (2-8) this evening at 7 p.m.
Cornell is coming off a near upset of No. 6 Michigan State, a game in which it held a 3-2 lead with under fifteen minutes to play before succumbing by a 5-3 count. Head coach Michelle Tambroni sees the contest with the perennial powerhouse as a defining moment in the Red’s history.
“I think we made a statement to the world of field hockey. It says a lot about our players and our program’s future,” she said.
The Red is hoping that some of the energy from the Michigan State game will propel it past the Raiders.
“We need to use [the MSU game] to motivate us for [tonight],” Tambroni offered.
Colgate has struggled mightily so far this season. It is coming off an 8-0 beating at the hands of Columbia. The Raiders are stifled by an anemic offense that sports a scant 1.1 goals per game average. Colgate opponents have averaged four goals per game.
Senior Kristine Thomas leaders the Raiders with nine points on four goals and should attract some attention from the Red’s back. Tambroni is confident that her attack “should be able to handle” the Colgate back.
Junior Sarah Rosenbaum should lead Cornell’s offensive charge. The Chevy Chase, Md. native sits atop the Red’s season scoring list with 11 points.
However, Tambroni cautioned the Red will not be able to rely on individual outputs alone.
“We need to make sure we don’t take [Colgate] lightly. It will take a team effort,” she explained.
Archived article by Gary Schueller