ITHACA, N.Y. – Both the men's and women's teams will continue to build on their places in the history of college polo when the Big Red hosts the 2012 USPA National Intercollegiate Championships from April 18-22 at Oxley Equestrian Center. The four top women's teams and the six best men's teams from around the country will compete to stand atop the podium on Sunday.

The women's team, fresh of its 19th Northeast Regional title, will be defending its 2011 national title and brings a 12-5 overall record into Friday's semifinal game with Cal Poly. The Big Red has won 13 national titles with 15 runner-up finishes dating back to 1977. Cornell has won six national titles and has appeared in nine national finals dating back to 2000.

The men's team was the regional runner-up and finished second nationally a year ago. This season, armed with a 10-7 record, Cornell was an at-large selection to the championships and will be out for its 12th national title and first since 2005. The Big Red has reached the national final 24 times in its history, including six times since 2004. Cornell opens against SMU on Wednesday at 2 p.m .in the quarterfinals.

The tournament will begin with matches on Wednesday, April 18 with a noon contest on the women's side between Virginia and Texas A&M. A pair of men's games will be played later in the day with SMU facing Cornell at 2 p.m. and Westmont meeting Colorado State.

On Friday, April 20, the Big Red women will face Cal Poly at 12 p.m., followed by the Virginia men squaring off with the winner of SMU-Cornell at 2 p.m. and Connecticut battling either Westmont-Colorado State at 4 p.m.

The championship games are set for Sunday, April 22. The women's national title game will be at 10 a.m. and the men will compete at noon.