GAME INFORMATION
GAME #1: Cornell at Colgate
GAME TIME: Friday, Sept. 5 at 5:30 p.m.
GAME SITE: Tyler's Field (Hamilton, N.Y.)
SERIES RECORD: Cornell leads, 20-19-3
LAST MEETING: Cornell won, 3-2, Oct. 8, 2013 (Ithaca, N.Y.)
2014 RECORDS: Cornell (0-0); Colgate (1-1)
LIVE STATS http://stats.statbroadcast.com/broadcast/?id=62003 
LIVE VIDEO: http://www.campusinsiders.com/network/patriot_league/live/field-hockey-cornell-at-colgate

GAME #2: Cornell vs Albany
GAME TIME: Sunday, Sept. 7, at 1:00 p.m.
GAME SITE: Marsha Dodson Field (Ithaca, N.Y.)
SERIES RECORD: Albany leads, 4-3
LAST MEETING: Albany won, 3-0, Sept. 8, 2013 (Albany, N.Y.)
2014 RECORDS: Cornell (0-0)*; Albany (3-0)*
LIVE STATS: http://www.sidearmstats.com/cornell/fhockey/ 
LIVE VIDEO: None

* records prior to Sept. 5

OPENING UP: The Cornell field hockey team opens its 43rd season on Friday, Sept. 5 as it travels to instate rival Colgate for a contest at 5:30 p.m., before opening the home portion of its schedule against Albany at Marsha Dodson Field on Sunday, Sept. 7 at 1 p.m. … The Big Red is 24-14-4 (.619) all-time in season-openers. Last season, the Big Red fell to Lock Haven, 3-2, in overtime in the first game of the season, giving Coach Hornibrook just her third loss in a season opener (7-3) during her time with Cornell.

THE SERIES WITH COLGATE: The Big Red's history with Colgate goes back nearly as far as the field hockey histories for both programs, meeting for the first time in 1974, the third year of existence for Cornell and just the second year for the Raiders program. The Big Red took the lead in the series, 20-19-3, with a 3-2 victory last season at Marsha Dodson Field. Head Coach Donna Hornibrook holds a 6-4 record all-time against the Raiders.

SCOUTING THE RAIDERS: Colgate split its first two games of the season, defeating Bryant before falling to Hofstra. The Raiders' three goals and two assists on the weekend came from five separate individuals, while both goalies on the roster saw action. Senior goalie Amanda DiDomizio started both games, making eight saves and allowing six goals in 96 minutes of action, before rookie Maria Krull came on in relief vs. the Pride and played 44 minutes, making three saves and allowing two goals. Colgate was selected to finish fifth in the Patriot League Preseason Poll after a 2013 campaign that saw the squad finish 4-13 overall and 2-4 in the conference. Of the teams 13 losses, 10 came by a single goal, including three in overtime. Senior forward Elaina Brown was named to the Preseason All-Patriot League squad following a standout junior campaign that saw her earn first-team All-Patriot League accolades after contributing 23 points (10 G, 3 A) in 17 games played.  Entering her 26th season at the helm of the Raider program, head coach Cathy Foto returns 15 letter winners and seven starters, including DiDomizio, who posted a .742 save percentage and a 2.86 goals-against average a year ago.

LAST TIME VS. COLGATE: Elly Plappert '14 had the best game of her career, as she helped the Big Red comeback twice against instate rival Colgate to earn the 3-2 victory on Oct. 8, 2013 on Marsha Dodson Field. Plappert used some inspired play in the second half to charge the Big Red and had a hand in all three Cornell goals. Colgate came on strong in the first half, earning five penalty corners and taking seven shots en route to an early 1-0 lead off a goal from Halle Bigger in the 28th minute. But the Big Red regrouped at halftime and completely dominated the second stanza, outshooting the visitors, 16-3, and holding a 9-2 advantage in penalty corners. For the game, Cornell held the edge in shots (20-10) and penalty corners (9-7). Plappert tied the score at 1-1 in the opening moments of the second half when she tipped a penalty corner shot from Marisa Siergiej into the roof of the net. But just over nine minutes later, the home team found itself trailing again when Bigger scored her second goal of the game to make it a 2-1 Colgate advantage. Cornell turned up the pressure and moments later Katy Weeks knotted the game at 2-2 after Plappert drove to the baseline and then sent the ball across the mouth of the goal to Weeks on the far post. The duo of Plappert and Weeks teamed up again just over two minutes later to register the game-winner at the 51:52 mark. Plappert initiated the goal with a quick restart off a Colgate foul, as she outran her defender and headed to the net. Colgate's goalie Amanda DiDomizio came off her line, but Plappert slotted the ball past her to Weeks who tipped it home on the empty net. DiDomizio finished with five saves, while Elizabeth Schaeffler stopped two shots for Cornell to earn the victory.

VS. THE PATRIOT LEAGUE: The Big Red is 60-54-7 all-time vs. the current members of the Patriot League, thanks mostly to a 20-1-1 lead against Lehigh. The Big Red also holds a winning record against Colgate (20-19-3) and is tied in the series and Holy Cross (5-5). Cornell holds a losing record against American (0-1), Boston University (0-1), Bucknell (10-15-1), and Lafayette (5-12-2) … Cornell is 22-12 vs. the Patriot League during Coach Hornibrook's tenure.

THE SERIES WITH ALBANY: The Great Danes hold the slim lead in the all-time series, 4-3, thanks to its current three-game winning streak. The teams first met in 1999, a 2-1 Cornell victory. The Big Red fell, 4-2, the following year, but responded with consecutive wins in 2001 (6-1) and 2002 (3-0). The Great Danes evened the series with back-to-back wins in 2007 (5-1) and 2008 (1-0) and won a year ago (3-0) to take the lead… Head Coach Donna Hornibrook is 0-3 against Albany.

SCOUTING THE GREAT DANES: Albany will enter its Saturday game vs. No. 5 Syracuse with a 3-0 record after completely dominating its first three opponents of the season. The Great Danes have defeated Hofstra, Bryant and Ohio State by a combined score of 14-0, with a 7-0 victory over the Pride proving to be the most lopsided of the early season. The reigning America East Midfielder and Rookie of the Year, Paula Heuser, has already racked up 14 points (6 G, 2 A), while Kelsey Briddell and Anna Bottino have added two goals and two assists apiece. Sophomore goalkeeper Maxi Primus has played every minute, making a total of five saves to earn three shut outs. Albany was selected as the preseason America East favorite by unanimous decision after going 16-5 overall and 4-1 in the conference last season. Offensively, the Great Danes return Hueser, who led the conference with 45 points (17 G, 11 A). Defensively, Albany returns NFHCA All-Region pick Fiori Van Rijswijk, as well as second-team all-conference selections Jaclyn Hibbs and Jordyn Homyak. Primus returns to the cage after a stellar rookie season in which she posted five shutouts and a league-best 1.27 goals-against average last season.

LAST TIME VS. ALBANY: Cornell goalie Carolyn Horner '14 recorded a career-high 15 saves, but it wasn't enough as the Big Red fell to Albany, 3-0, on Sept. 8 at Alumni Field in Albany, N.Y. The Great Danes dominated the game, outshooting Cornell 27-3, while holding the 8-1 advantage in penalty corners. The Big Red put just one shot on goal, but Albany's Maxi Primus was up to the task to finish the game with one save. Emily White wasted little time in getting the home team on the board, scoring in the fifth minute when she put back a rebound off a Horner save. The Great Danes got a pair of late goals to seal the contest with Molly Mariano scoring in the 59th minutes and Daphne Voormolen scoring in the 64th minute. Mariano's goal was also scored off a rebound following a Horner save, while Voormolen blasted a shot from just inside the circle to the far post.

AGAINST THE AMERICA EAST – Cornell is 3-11 all-time against the current members of the America East, with all three victories coming against Albany (3-4). The Big Red is winless against Fairfield (0-1), Maine (0-3), and Vermont (0-3), but has never faced UMass-Lowell or New Hampshire in field hockey … Coach Hornibrook is 0-9 all-time against the America East.

THE HEAD COACH: Cornell head coach Donna Hornibrook is in her 11th season at Cornell (87-77, .530) ... Hornibrook became the sixth coach in Cornell field hockey history in January 2004 ... She has a 258-124-10 (.671) record as a head coach, including a 111-39-4 mark at Houghton and a 60-8-6 record at New Brunswick.
 
ONE OF THE BEST: Head coach Donna Hornibrook ranks among the best when it comes to winning. Among active Division I head coaches, she ranks 14th overall for winning percentage (.629) and 22nd for career wins (198), rankings that would be higher if the NCAA counted her 60-8-6 record at Canada's New Brunswick.

OH CAPTAIN, MY CAPTAIN: Junior Taylor Standiford has been named team captain for the 2014 season, while senior Ann DiPastina has been named assistant captain.

RANKED OPPONENTS: The Big Red's schedule features four teams that were ranked in the 2014 NFHCA Division I Preseason Poll – No. 5 Syracuse, No. 7 Princeton, No. 18 Delaware and No. 19 American University.  
 
USA, USA, USA –  A trio of Big Red field hockey players – Marisa Siergiej, Katy Weeks and Kelly Johnson – were selected to participate in a pair of US Field Hockey events this past summer, as Weeks played in the Women's National Championship while Siergiej and Johnson played in the Under 21 Championship.
 
CAN-A-DA, CAN-A-DA – Sam McILwrick was the youngest player selected to train with the U-21 Canadian national team in 2013 and went on to be named the 2013 U-18 Player of the Year by Field Hockey British Columbia. She was also named to the Canadian national "Target 2017" team in preparation of the 2017 Junior World Cup. 
 
EVERYBODY'S ALL-AMERICAN: Junior Marisa Siergiej was named a second-team Mideast Region All-American following the 2013 season. One of the premier defenders in the Ivy League, Siergiej was the anchor of a defensive unit that ranked fourth in the conference in goals allowed (2.12) and gave up just 6.1 penalty corners per contest. On the other side of the field, she was the Big Red's best scoring threat on penalty corner opportunities, netting 10 goals this season. She led the team in goals, game-winning goals (four), and points (22), marks that also placed her in the top 10 in the conference in all three categories.
 
ALL-IVY ACCOLADES: Cornell had four players named All-Ivy in 2013, two of whom are back for the 2014 season – junior Marisa Siergiej  and sophomore  Katy Weeks (second-team).

SMARTY PANTS: The Big Red placed a school-record 10 student-athletes on the 2013 Gladiator by SGI/NFHCA Division I National Academic Squad. The 10 honorees are the most ever, besting the mark of eight that made the team following the 2010 campaign. Additionally, freshman Katie Weeks was named a Division I Scholar of Distinction for having achieved a cumulative GPA of 3.90 or higher through the first semester of the 2013-14 academic year. Cornell has had at least four players earn the honor in nine of the past 10 seasons. In addition to the individual accolades, the squad also earned the NFHCA Collegiate National Academic Team Award for the sixth time during head coach Hornibrook's tenure.

100 POINTS: Last season's team was outstanding offensively, going over 100 points in a season for just the sixth time in program history and third time under Coach Hornibrook. The 111 total team points ranked third in school history for single-season performance, giving Coach Hornibrook's teams the top three spots (126 in 2008; 123 in 2005). 

SCORE!!: Cornell's 39 goals last season was good for third overall in program history for single-season goals, giving Coach Hornibrook's teams the top four finishes (45 in 2008; 44 in 2005; 39 in 2010) in program history. 

250 WINS: The Big Red's 3-1 victory over Georgetown on Sept. 15, 2013 was the 250th win of head coach Donna Hornibrook's career.

REACHING 10 WINS: The Big Red posted 10 wins last season, giving coach Hornibrook double-digit wins for the sixth time during her 10-year Cornell tenure. It was the first 10-win season for the Big Red since the 2010 team went 11-5.

FRESHMAN POINTS: Last year, Katy Weeks had one of the best freshman seasons in Cornell history with 20 points on seven goals and six assists. Her 20 points ranked fourth overall in Big Red history for points by a rookie. Weeks' seven goals ranked sixth overall among Cornell freshman and her six assists ranked second overall in Cornell history for rookie assists.

CLOSE CALLS: Cornell's 3-2 overtime loss to No. 3 Syracuse on Oct. 27, 2013 continued the Big Red's trend of playing in one-goal games. Since the start of the 2006 season, the Big Red has lost 55 games, with 33 of those coming by a single goal, including 16 in overtime. During that same span, Cornell has won 71 games, with 36 coming in one-goal games, including 10 in overtime … Last season, nine of Cornell's 17 games were one-goal decisions.

BALANCED OFFENSE: Last season, the Big Red had nine players register at least one goal on the season. Head Coach Donna Hornibrook has had at least nine players register one goal in all but two seasons with the Big Red (2004, 2012).

FAST STARTS: Scoring first has been a big part of the Big Red's success in recent years. Since Coach Hornibrook has taken over the program, Cornell has posted an impressive 75-13 record in games in which they have scored first. Conversely, the team has won only 11 games in which they have had to come back from an early deficit to win. The first was Coach Hornibrook's very first victory with the team, a 6-3 win over Lehigh in 2004, with the latest coming on Oct. 8, 2013 as Cornell overcame an early 1-0 deficit to defeat Colgate, 3-2, in Ithaca, N.Y.

KNOCK THREE TIMES: When the Big Red fell to Penn, 4-3, on Sept. 21, 2013 it marked only the fourth time in Coach Hornibrook's career with Cornell that the team scored three goals and lost the contest. Under Coach Hornibrook, the Big Red earned its 55th victory in a game in which it scores at least three goals when it defeated Dartmouth (3-0) on Nov. 9, 2013.

THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE (A NEW) HOME: The Big Red is 32-16 all-time on Marsha Dodson Field. Collectively, the team has outscored its opponents by a margin of 107-78 and has taken significantly more shots (852-505) than its opponents. The defense has been equally solid in the circle, allowing just 277 penalty corners (5.8 per game).

SISTER ACT: The 2014 campaign will mark the first time since the 2007 campaign that the Cornell roster will not featured at least one set of sisters.

ON THE BLOCK: Ann DiPastina is a member of Cornell's Block and Bridle Club and has trained beef heifers by halter breaking them.

UP NEXT: Cornell hits the road next weekend for a pair of games, travelling to Lehigh on Friday, Sept. 12 before taking on Delaware on Sunday, Sept. 14. The Big Red will look to extend its 18-game winning streak against the Mountain Hawks in a series that the Big Red leads, 20-1-1, while also remaining perfect against Delaware, having won the only meeting with the Blue Hens in program history in 2010.