ITHACA, N.Y. -- The Cornell field hockey team is in the midst of a two-week international tour of South Africa, sharpening its skills and building team cohesion in preparation for the 2024 season beginning in August.
With 24 players along with seven coaches and staff along for the tour, the Big Red departed for Johannesburg on May 26 and arrived the following day following a 16-hour flight from Newark Airport. Cornell will depart on June 8 and arrive back in the United States the following day.
The 15-day trip includes five games, including contests against the University of Johannesburg and Wits University, as well as club teams Shumbas, Western Province and Conberg Hockey Club. There will be plenty of time for cultural exchange, as the Big Red will visit sites such as the Apartheid Museum, the Mandela House and the Cape of Good Hope, attend rugby matches in Cape Town and a safari game drive, and engage in activities such as biking, water sports and local tours.
The Big Red is 3-0 on its tour, earning wins over Johannesburg (4-0), Wits (2-1) and Shumbas (3-0) and will close out competition against Western Province on Monday, June 3 and Conberg on Tuesday, June 4.
Cornell is coming off a season in which it set a school record for wins (12), reaching No. 17 in the NFHCA poll and earning the No. 2 seed in the inaugural Ivy League Tournament as the conference runner-up. The Big Red led the nation in scoring average (3.21), assists per game (3.65), and points per game (10.47), all single-season school records. It was also second in Division I in scoring margin (1.99) and second in the Ivy League and 15th nationally in scoring defense (1.22 goals allowed per game) with five shutouts. All-American
Caroline Ramsey was nation's No. 2 scorer and became the school's all-time scoring leader en route to NFHCA Northeast Regional, Ivy League and ECAC Offensive Player of the year honors, while sister Julia paced Division I in assists.
