The men’s polo team will look to bounce back from last weekend’s disappointing 19-15 loss to Connecticut in tonight’s match against Skidmore at 7 p.m. in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.
Entering its match against the Huskies, the undefeated Red was riding high over its early season success, which included a 20-6 dismantling of UConn earlier this year. However, after surging to an early six-goal lead, Cornell proceeded to lose its focus and composure, eventually losing the match.
“The guys got in there and they played a really good first chukker and came out focused,” commented head coach David Eldredge ’81.
However, Eldredge felt his team fell into the mentality of: “This is easy, a cake walk, no problem. UConn played the whole game and that was the difference.”
Eldredge is confidant that the mistakes of last weekend will not repeat themselves in the match against Skidmore. He expects his team to play with greater intensity, avoiding the complacency that was the downfall of the Red last weekend.
“I think they’re going to be a whole lot more focused than they were at UConn,” commented Eldredge. “The loss last week really opened their eyes. They realized that they have to continue to work at this, and that this is not just a few games, but a whole season.”
Although the men face a less talented team this weekend against Skidmore, the Red will still have to adjust to a smaller arena that gave the women’s team some difficulties in its match last Friday against Skidmore.
“It’s going to be difficult scenario for them as far as adjusting to [the smaller arena], but I think they’ll probably do quite well with it and shouldn’t have too much trouble with it,” said Eldredge.
Meanwhile, the women’s team returns home after last weekend’s 17-9 thrashing of Skidmore, for an 8:15 p.m. match against Buffalo’s Teabrook Polo Club tomorrow.
“It’s going to be a competitive match,” remarked Eldredge. “It’ll be a good one for us. We’re possibly going to be able to get some other people in and have a look at them to see where we stand.”
One concern for Eldredge is the condition of senior Harriet Antczak, who mildly injured her wrist on the way to scoring 15 goals last weekend against Skidmore.
“She’s probably not going to play as much this weekend so that she can rest her wrist,” commented Eldredge on the playing status of Antczak. “We really want her to be healthy for the Field tournament.”
For both the men’s and women’s teams this weekend, the competition should provide a valuable chance to fine-tune their play before the following weekend’s Bill Field Invitational, a marquee event for the fall season.
“I think this is a weekend where the team is not necessarily looking ahead to the Field Tournament, but they’re definitely using this as a stepping stone into the tournament to get themselves prepared,” explained Eldredge. “It should be a good competitive weekend for us.”
Archived article by Paul Testa