ITHACA, N.Y. -- Cornell head field hockey coach Andy Smith and his staff are excited to announce the newest members of the Big Red family. The Class of 2025, featuring six incoming freshmen, joins a Cornell field hockey program continuing to build momentum with eyes on securing its first Ivy League title since 1991.
 
"We are incredibly satisfied with the recruiting we have done for 2021," said head coach Andy Smith. "This group has the ability to be on the field from the minute they walk on campus and will push the incredibly talented and motivated group we already have to be better as we look to challenge for honors in 2021 and beyond."
 
Smith's first season on the sidelines catapulted the Big Red into third place in the Ivy League standings after finishing in eighth the year before he arrived. Included was a win over nationally-ranked Syracuse in Smith's first game as head coach, as well as a spot in the Top 25 as part of a 5-2 start to the 2019 campaign. Off the field, Cornell was honored with an NFHCA National Academic Team Award and placed 15 student-athletes of the national academic squad.
 

Nia Butler

5-1 * F * Houston, Texas * The Hotchkiss School
• Butler was a four-year member of the field hockey team at The Hotchkiss School.
• A two-year captain, she helped her team to a pair of league championships and another runner-up squad.
• Helped team to a NEPSAC tournament runner-up finish in 2018.
• Butler also played lacrosse for four seasons, earning her team's Ground Ball Machine Award in 2019.
• She was part of the Women's Professional Lacrosse League (WPLL) Futures Program in 2018.

Coach Smith on Butler
"Nia is an athlete. She has the ability and the athleticism to be one of the fastest players in the country. Nia was actually recommended to me by Alisha Widdall (former assistant coach) who saw her play at a camp. She is fast, feisty, single-minded and a real challenge to play against. She is someone that will bring a new dimension to our game and we are so happy that she chose to come to Cornell."
 

Hanke Govaert

5-8 * M/F * Bedford, N.Y. * Sacred Heart Greenwich
• Ranked among the top 50 prospects in the country as a senior at Sacred Heart Greenwich in 2019.
• Captured All-NEPSAC honors in 2019 after scoring 11 goals with five assists out of the midfield, leading her team to the first Class A title in school history.
• Played two seasons of varsity at Rye HS.
• Had 14 goals and 10 assists as a sophomore before being injured early in her junior year.
• Chosen for all-league, all-elite and NYSPHSAA Scholar Athlete honors after posting 14 goals and 10 assists.
• Ended varsity career with 18 goals and 16 assists.

Coach Smith on Govaert
"Hanke is someone that is a true student of the game. She has been playing the game since her early years and has a wonderful knowledge of the game and how to play. Everyone has their own story on how they got here and Hanke is no different. Her collegiate path changed at the last minute through no fault of her own and we found a place for her here. She brings an immediate presence to our defensive core and has the ability to play at any level she chooses to."
 

Meadow Maguire

5-7 * F * Rumson, N.J. * Rumson-Fair Haven HS
• Maguire was a two-time all-state pick at Rumson-Fair Haven HS.
• She earned second team all-state accolades as a senior after being chosen for the third team as a junior.
• She was a three-time first-team all-group and all-shore selection.
• Helped her team to four conference and sectional titles.
• Captained the team her senior year.  

Coach Smith on Maguire
"Meadow was our last recruit and sometimes fate plays a part. Originally on a different path for college, last minute changes pushed her toward Cornell and we couldn't be happier.  She has all the traits necessary to be a top-level player and is someone who will bring a new level of firepower to our team. She is just as comfortable scoring goals as she is creating for her teammates and will be a wonderful addition to everything we do."
 

Sarah Rogalski

5-4 * M * Wayne, Pa. * The Hill School
• Rogalski was an honorable mention all-state selection at midfield as a senior at The Hill School.
• She helped her squad to a state runner-up finish in her final season after capturing a league title.
• Was part of a state quarterfinalist squad at Conestoga HS in 2018.
• Ranked among the top 100 high school players in the country by maxfieldhockey.com.  

Coach Smith on Rogalski
"As a new coach it is always tough recruiting the first class. Sarah contacted me early in the recruiting cycle and almost got lost in the pile. More and more friends within the game contacted me and urged us to take a better look at Sarah and what she could bring. We did and the result is that we are delighted to have her for 2021. Sarah will join an already incredibly talented group of midfielders and give us different options in the midfield area. She is quick, good on the ball and a tenacious defender. I coached her high school coach at Dartmouth and she has rubbed off on Sarah in the best possible way."
 

Ella Singer

5-4 * M/F * Short Hills, N.J. * Morristown-Beard School
• Singer was a two-time all-state pick at Morristown-Beard School.
• Was a second-team all-state pick as a senior after capturing first team accolades as a junior.
• Was a three-time first-team all-conference and all-county pick.
• Helped team to a pair of state titles, including as a senior captain.
• Also ran track for four seasons.  

Coach Smith on Singer
"Ella is someone that flew under the radar. She attended Spring Camp in early 2020 and stood out as being incredibly tough to play against and someone who could bring some toughness to us. I joked with her during the recruiting process that one of the things I appreciated about her was that 'she could start a fight in an empty room.' She has that level of determination and competitiveness and we look forward to developing her over the next four years and watching her grow."
 

Gabby Volpe

5-5 * M/D * Summit, N.J. * Oak Knoll School
• Volpe was a third-team all-state selection as a defender at national champion Oak Knoll School in 2019.
• Her team went 23-0 and outscored opponents 154-7 as a junior.
• Volpe was an honorable mention all-league pick as a sophomore.
• She was a four-year letter winner in field hockey, a four-year member of the ice hockey team and also played lacrosse.  

Coach Smith on Volpe
"Gabby came to us courtesy of my friend Ahmed who is her Club Coach at New Heights in N.J. She has played on one of the most dominant high school teams in the country and has been an incredible leader for them. She has great skills coupled with a great brain for the game. She is an incredible addition for us and adds even more depth to our defensive core for 2021 and beyond."