They weren’t selling your grandmother’s cookbook. But then again, they weren’t taking your typical field trip.
On May 27, around two-dozen of Cornell’s field hockey finest journeyed overseas for a 10-day tour of England, Wales, and Ireland. But it wasn’t all sightseeing and tea parties. The women played four games along the way, and head coach Michelle Tambroni was clear with the team’s pre-trip objective.
“Just being together as a group on and off the field will be great for team chemistry,” she said. “We’ll gain exposure of European-style field hockey and have the opportunity to appreciate different cultures, style of living, and style of play.”
Though the team had a tough time finding the back of the net against the stiff English defense, it did manage to keep pace with most of the competition. In the game against Hounslow & Ealing, senior Kimmy Gardner notched an unassisted goal in the first half. Solid defensive play from the Red then carried the team well into the second half, until H&E tied it up, and then scored the go-ahead goal. Swansea proved to be too much for the stickwomen, as it beat the Red 5-0.
When Cornell did find victory, it did so in style. Senior Carissa Mirasol recorded a hat trick, as juniors Sara Weiner and Gina Testa, and senior Lindsay Grace all assisted in the Red’s 3-0 win over Oxford University. Gardner helped to protect the shutout with a defensive save.
Donors assisted in sponsoring part of the team’s expenses, while other costs were covered with the sale of cookbooks. Entitled the “Cornell Field Hockey Tailgating Cookbook,” the cookbook held recipes from the players and their families.
“We have so much appreciation for our donors,” said Tambroni. “Without the help of our friends, family and alumni, this trip would not be possible.”
Archived article by Matt Janiga