ITHACA, N.Y. – Cornell field hockey head coach
Donna Hornibrook has announced the Big Red's incoming class of 2014.The Big Red will add eight players to next year's squad, as Hanna Balleza (Columbia, Md.), Mallory Bannon (Hopkinton, Mass.), Shannon Berry (Menlo Park, Calif.), Izzy Fratt (St. Louis, Mo.), Christine Hibler (St. Louis, Mo.), Carolyn Horner (Allentown, N.J.), Elly Plappert (Newtown, Pa.) and Brittany Thompson (Bronx, N.Y.) will join the team for the 2010 season. The class of eight players come from seven different states and consists of four attackers, one midfielder, one back and one goalkeeper.
“I love the athleticism, speed and potential of this class,” said Hornibrook. “They are a competitive minded group of athletes and I am confident that their style and physical abilities will be a great fit and addition to the Big Red field hockey program.”
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Cornell Field Hockey 2010 Recruiting Class
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Name
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Ht.
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Pos.
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Hometown (High School)
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Hannah Balleza
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5-7
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A/M
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Columbia, Md. (Severna Park HS)
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Mallory Bannon
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5-6
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A
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Hopkinton, Mass. (Hopkinton HS)
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Shannon Berry
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5-5
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M/B
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Menlo Park, Calif. (Saint Francis HS)
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Izzy Fratt
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5-8
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B
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St. Louis, Mo. (Clayton HS)
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Christine Hibler
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5-5
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A/M
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St. Louis, Mo. (Lafayette Senior HS)
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Carolyn Horner
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5-7
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GK
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Allentown, N.J. (Peddie School)
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Elly Plappert
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5-5
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A/M
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Newtown, Pa. (Council Rock North HS)
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Brittany Thompson
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5-3
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M
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Bronx, N.Y. (Ethical Culture Fieldston School)
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Cornell Field Hockey Class of 2014
Player Biographies
Hannah Balleza – 5-7 – A/M – Columbia, Md.
(Severna Park HS)
Balleza lettered three times at Severna Park School where she helped her team to three straight 4A state championships and as a senior captain, she earned Regional All-American accolades. During her final two seasons, she was named first-team all-county, first-team all-state, Washington Post first-team all-met and Baltimore Sun first-team all-met. Balleza has been a member of the US Women's Indoor National team since 2009 and she has participated in three National Futures Tournaments. She also played tennis and ran track for two years at Severna Park.
Hornibrook on Balleza: Hannah is coming in with a solid level of skill because of the tremendous experience she has gained through her training and playing with the US Indoor National squad. She has outstanding speed, which when combined with her offensive skills, will make her a very dangerous attacking player.
Mallory Bannon – 5-6 – A – Hopkinton, Mass.
(Hopkinton HS)
Bannon was a four-time letter winner at Hopkinton high school. A two-time team captain, she led her team to three straight Tri Valley League championships from 2007-09, as well as a Massachusetts State championship in 2008. Bannon was a four-time Tri Valley League all-star, earning league MVP honors in each of her final three seasons. The 2008 Massachusetts Division II Player of the Year, she was named to the both NFHCA Northeast Regional team and the NFHCA High School National Academic Squad in 2009.Bannon was a junior Olympic selection in 2008 and was a member of the US Field Hockey Futures Program from 2006-10. She also lettered four times in lacrosse.
Hornibrook on Bannon: One of the characteristics we liked most about Mallory's play is the work ethic and commitment she displays every time she steps on the field. Mallory is passionate about the game, and is a natural athlete who is blessed with speed. Her experience the past several years competing at the National Futures Tournament will be invaluable in helping her make the jump to the college level.
Shannon Berry – 5-5 – M/B – Menlo Park, Calif.
(Saint Francis HS)
Berry lettered twice at Saint Francis high school, serving as team captain as a senior. She earned her team's Coaches' Award in 2009, a season in which she was named second-team all-league and second-team All-Central Coast Section. Berry was also a two-time scholar award recipient. She also lettered twice in track and field. As a member of the San Jose Fly field hockey club, Berry was a USA Futures program participant and was selected as an alternate for the 2008 California team for the National Futures tournament.
Hornibrook on Berry: Shannon is a team player in every sense of the word and there is nothing she will not do to take her game to the next level. She is solid technically and will only continue to grow as a player. Shannon is tireless in her play and we are anticipating that she will very quickly become a leader in our team fitness.
Izzy Fratt – 5-8 – B – St. Louis, Mo.
(Clayton HS)
Fratt was a four-year letter winner on defense at Clayton high school, where she served as team captain during her senior season. She was named a Senior All-Star and was a first-team all-metro selection. Fratt was named her team's most valuable defender and earned her school's Athletic Achievement award. She also lettered twice in swimming and twice in track. Fratt played club field hockey for AIM.
Hornibrook on Fratt: Izzy is a defender who plays with a lot of poise and confidence. We like the way she handles pressure and we are looking forward to seeing her develop into a really powerful back with a physical presence.
Christine Hibler – 5-5 – A/M – St. Louis, Mo.
(Lafayette Senior HS)
A four-year letter winner at Lafayette Senior high school, Hibler served as team captain during her senior season. She led Lafayette to three consecutive Suburban West Conference championships from 2007-09. Hibler also lettered four times in soccer, helping her team to three-straight district championships. She also played for the Gateway Field Hockey Club.
Hornibrook on Hibler: Christine is a tremendous competitor and an excellent athlete who is blessed with speed and a natural touch around the goal. She scored a lot of goals in high school and should only get better as she matures. I am excited about watching her play unfold as she combines her physical talents with her skill development.
Carolyn Horner – 5-7 – GK – Allentown, N.J.
(Peddie School)
A four-year letter winner at the Peddie School, Horner led her team to back-to-back Prep A State championships while serving as her team captain in 2008 and 2009. Following her senior season, the Trenton Times named her the Player of the Year, first-team all-prep, first-team all-area and to the Team of the Decade first-team. She was also named the Goalie of the Year, first-team all-area and first-team all-prep by the Trentonian, as well as Newark Star Ledger first-team all-state and first-team all-prep. Horner was also named to the 2009 Central Jersey Coaches first-team and the Mid-Atlantic Prep League (MAPL) first team. As a junior, Horner was named the Trentonian Defensive Player of the Year. She was also named first-team all-prep by the Trentonian, the Trenton Times and the Newark Star Ledger. Horner earned first-team all-area accolades by the Trenton Times, as well as first-team All-MAPL and MAPL all-academic team accolades. Horner lettered three times in softball and won her school's Winant Cup, as Peddie's outstanding female scholar-athlete.
Hornibrook on Horner: Carolyn has the attitude, drive and determination to develop into a very good college keeper. She is highly competitive and her will to keep the ball out of the net is evident in her play. She has also been selected to the National Futures Championship squad the past couple of years which has given her confidence in her play.
Elly Plappert – 5-5 – A/M – Newtown, Pa.
(Council Rock North HS)
Plappert was a four-year letter winner in field hockey at Council Rock North high school. She graduated as the program's leader in career assists (34) and tied the school record for career points (102). As a senior captain, Plappert led her team in goals as Council Rock won the Suburban One League National Conference championship and advanced to the district playoffs for the third-straight season. She was named the league's Player of the Year, as well as first-team all-league. Plappert was named to the Pennsylvania HS FH Coaches Association first-team all-state and academic all-state team. She was also a Philadelphia Inquirer first-team all-area selection, while the Bucks County Courier Times named her the Golden Team Player of the Year. Plappert was also chosen to play in the Philadelphia All-Star Classic game. As a junior, she was named to the Philadelphia Inquirer all-region honorable mention team and the Bucks County Courier Times Golden Team first-team. Plappert was named all-league and second-team all-state, after garnering third-team all-league honors as a sophomore. Plappert was also a highly-decorated lacrosse player, earning four varsity letters, while running track for two years. A seven-year member of the Mystx Field Hockey club, she was the team's leading scorer two seasons.
Hornibrook on Plappert: Elly is a natural leader with excellent offensive skills and game sense. Elly's play is very balanced, as she displays a propensity to equally create scoring opportunities for her teammates as well as herself. We are looking forward to incorporating her offensive skill set into our penalty corners in the future.
Brittany Thompson – 5-3 – M – Bronx, N.Y.
(Ethical Culture Fieldston School)
A four-year letter winner at the Ethical Culture Fieldston School, Thompson served as team captain as a senior. She a three-time first-team All-Ivy Preparatory School League selection, after being named a second-team selection as a freshman, and was also a three-time first-team All-AAIS League selection. She helped her team to win four-straight AAIS League championships, as well as four consecutive Ivy Preparatory League championships. Thompson also lettered four times in basketball and once in track and field. As a basketball player, she was a two-time first-team All-Ivy Preparatory School League selection. During her one year on the track team, she won the 2009 New York State Independent School championship in the shot put. Thompson played club field hockey for G-Force and served as team captain.
Hornibrook on Thompson: Brittany is an incredibly hard worker. She is also physically gifted and we are really excited about her versatility, power and untapped potential. As her skills catch up with her athleticism she will be a force to be reckoned with.
