Cornell University Athletics

At Cornell
Martinez, a second-team Mideast Region All-American in both 2005 and 2007, was named a unanimous first-team All-Ivy selection as a junior after earning second-team honors in each of her first two seasons. A two-time team captain, she anchored a Cornell back line which allowed opponents less than 11 shots per game in 2007. Her three goals and team-high five assists also provided an offensive spark for the Big Red, as she ranked third on the team with 11 points. A two-time defensive MVP for the Big Red, she has started every game of her career since arriving on East Hill and her 30 career points puts her in a tie for 14th place on Cornell’s all-time list. She is a creative player who is willing to take some risks and sparks the offense with her passing ability and excellent field vision. Martinez started all 16 games during her sophomore season and anchored the defense from the sweeper position. She also provided some offense for the Big Red, scoring two goals and tallying two assists. In her rookie season, Martinez was a big factor in holding Cornell’s opponents to 50 percent fewer shots than they had taken the year prior. She was also the third leading scorer on the team with six goals, including three in Ivy League action. Martinez was named the Ivy League Player of the Week on Sept. 27, 2006.

At Vincent Massey Collegiate
A team captain at Vincent Massey, Martinez earned a spot on the tournament all-star team in 2004 after leading her squad to the Winnipeg city championship and a second-place finish in the Canadian high school playoffs. She was a member of the Canadian junior national training squad, and she has served as captain of Manitoba’s U-18 and U-21 teams. At the 2002 U-18 national championships, Martinez was named to the all-star team and the following year, the squad earned the silver medal.

Personal
Maria Belen Martinez is the daughter of Guillermo and Silvia Martinez and has a younger brother, Sebastian. She is enrolled in Cornell’s College of Human Ecology.