Cornell University Women's Field Hockey

Desch was a key component to one of the stingiest defenses in the MAC during her time at OU. In her first season in Athens, she helped the Bobcats to a MAC regular season championship, a MAC tournament championship, and a victory in the NCAA play-in game to advance to the national tournament. As a senior, she earned first-team All-MAC honors after leading the teams offense with career highs in goals (6) and points (14). Desch was a three-sport athlete at Western Albemarle High School in Crozet, Va., where she was a four-time all-state selection and was named Central VA Player of the Year in 2008 and Virginia State Player of the Year. Desch was also named four-time all-region and was a two-time Region Player of the Year.  Lauryl Desch

Hornibrooks teams have made great progress during her first 12 seasons on East Hill. Hornibrook has posted a 109-88 record overall and a mark of 47-37 in the Ivy League. Her teams have earned at least 10 wins in a season eight times, while finishing second in the conference six times. With a 3-1 victory over Georgetown on Sept. 15, 2013, she registered the 250th victory of her career and she finished the 2015 season ranked 16th overall in winning percentage (.632) among active Division I head coaches and 18th for career wins (220), rankings that would be higher if the NCAA counted her 60-8-6 record at Canada's New Brunswick University. Under her direction, Hornibrooks players have earned 44 All-Ivy honors, including 17 first-team selections, as well as one Defensive Player of the Year and one Rookie of the Year. With goalie Carolyn Horners first-team All-Ivy selection in 2013, her second consecutive, the Big Red  had a first-team All-Ivy goalie in five of six seasons from 2008-13. The five selections under Hornibrook matches the same number of first-team All-Ivy goalies Cornell had in the 29 seasons prior to 2008. Additionally, with Marisa Siergiejs unanimous first-team All-Ivy selection in 2015, she became just the sixth four-time All-Ivy selection in Cornell history. Of the six, five have played for Hornbook.  Hornibrooks players have also earned 17 Mideast Region All-Americans honors, including Belen Martinez 09, Catie De Stio 11 and Marisa Siergiej 16, the only three-time selections in Cornell history. Hornibrook has seen at least one player placed on the Mideast Region All-American team in 10 of her 12 seasons at Cornell. A coach that believes that academic success is just as important as athletic performance, Cornell has earned 60 NFHCA National Academic Squad selection under Coach Hornibrook, which is 36 more than the total number honored in the previous 15 years before her arrival. During her time, Cornell has also enjoyed the only five four-time NFHCA Academic Squad selections in program history Stephanie Brownstein 08, Alex Botte 12 Katie Garrity 16, Elizabeth Schaeffler 16, and Taylor Standiford 16. Since bringing in her first full recruiting class prior to the 2005 season, the Big Red has joined Princeton in being the only Ivy League teams to post winning records both overall (106-78) and in conference play (45-32).   Last season, the Big Red posted a record of 11-6 overall and a mark of 5-2 in the Ivy League, good for second place in the conference standings. Of its six losses, four came to nationally ranked teams that made the NCAA tournament field, including three that finished in the top 10 of the RPI. Additionally, the Big Red's 11 wins tied the school record for victories in a season, previously set three times (2008, 2010, 2014), and the team set new school standards for points (147), goals (50) and assists (57). For the first time in program history, the Big Red closed a campaign with a top 20 RPI and a top 20 strength of schedule (SOS), finishing at 19th overall in both categories. Cornell has been on an upward trend in both categories, improving in each of the past five seasons.   Following the season, Marisa Siergiej 16 was named the Ivy League Defender of the Year and became the programs first All-American in 13 seasons, when she was named to the second-team by the NFHCA, after being selected to the first-team All-Mideast Region for the second year in a row. She was joined on the all-region teams by second-team selections Krysten Mayers and Katy Weeks. The trio was also honored by the Ivy League, with Siergiej being named a unanimous first-team All-Ivy selection for the second consecutive season. Weeks was also named to the first-team, while Mayers was a second-team honoree.    Cornell finished the 2014 season with an 11-5 record overall and secured a second place finish in the Ivy League with a mark of 5-2. The 11 total wins tied a school record for victories in a single season, previously set in 2008 and 2010. The squad also set a school record for points (127), giving Coach Hornibrook's teams the top four spots (126 in 2008; 123 in 2005; 111 in 2013) in Big Red history. The team also set new standards in points per game (7.94), goals (45), and assists (37) in a single-season.   Following the season, junior Marisa Siergiej earned a first-team Mideast Region All-American selection after being named unanimous first-team All-Ivy. In total, the Big Red earned five All-Ivy honors, as freshman Sam McILwrick and sophomore Katy Weeks were named second-team, while both senior Ann DiPastina and freshman Krysten Mayers earned honorable mention. The Big Red finished the 2013 season at 10-7 overall and 4-3 in the Ivy League, good for third place in the conference standings. The 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 ranks third in school history for single-season performance, giving Coach Hornibrooks teams the top three spots (126 in 2008; 123 in 2005). The Big Red also registered 39 goals, a mark that was also good for third overall in program history for single-season goals, giving Coach Hornibrooks teams the top four finishes (45 in 2008; 44 in 2005; 39 in 2010). Following the season, sophomore Marisa Siergiej was named second-team Mideast Region All-American after earning an All-Ivy first-team selection along with Horner. Freshman Katy Weeks also joined Balleza on the All-Ivy second-team. Balleza also finished her career as one of the most dangerous offensive threats in Big Red history ranking fourth overall in career points (91), third in career goals (35) and fourth overall in career assists (21). After a rough 2011 season, the Big Red returned to the top half of the Ivy standings with a fourth place finish after going 3-4 in conference play and 8-9 overall. Of the Big Reds nine losses, six came by a single goal, including three in overtime. Balleza and Horner were each named first-team All-Ivy and went on to be named Mideast Region All-American second-team selections. Joining Balleza and Horner on the All-Ivy teams were second-team pick Siergiej and honorable mention selections Genna Collins 13 and Ann DiPastina 14. The Big Red also placed five student-athletes on the 2012 Gladiator by SGI/NFHCA Division I National Academic Squad Ann DiPastina 14, Stephanie Eggertson 15, Katie Garrity 15, Elizabeth Schaeffler 15 and Taylor Standiford 15, while the squad earned the NFHCA Collegiate National Academic Team Award for the fifth time during head coach Donna Hornibrook's tenure. The 2011 season proved to be a rebuilding year after graduating the winningest class in program history, including the entire defensive unit and one of the greatest offensive players in Big Red history, Catie De Stio 11. The team also lost four-time All-Ivy selection Kate Thompson 11. Still, Cornell managed to finish the season with a respectable 7-10 record overall (1-6 Ivy). The Big Red was in every contest, with eight of its 10 losses coming by two or fewer goals, including one in overtime. Following the season, Cornell still placed Balleza and Mallory Bannon 14 on the second-team All-Ivy list, while Alex Botte 12 earned a spot in the NFHCA Senior All-Star game. The Big Red completed the 2010 season with an 11-5 record overall and a mark of 5-2 in the Ivy League. The 11 wins matched the school record for wins in a season, initially set in 2008, while the 5-2 record gave the Big Red its fourth second-place finish in the conference standings in the last five years. It also gave Cornell a .500+ record in the Ivy League for the sixth straight season, the most consecutive winning seasons in program history. Under Hornibrooks direction, De Stio ended her playing career as the Big Reds all-time leading career point scorer and was chosen to participate in the NFHCA Division I Senior Game, in addition to being named a second-team Mideast Region All-American. Cornell also garnered six All-Ivy selections, the most in Cornell field hockey history, surpassing the five selections in the 1988 and 2008 seasons. Headlining the All-Ivy selections was Balleza, who became just the second player in Cornell field hockey history to be named the Ivy League Rookie of the Year, joining Carri Hills (1994). Cornell also placed a program-high eight players on the NFHCA Academic Squad. In 2009, Cornell finished the year with a 10-5 record overall and tied for third in the Ivy League with a mark of 4-3 in conference play. Hornibrook directed a pair of Mideast Region All-Americans and first-team All-Ivy selections in Mel Jue 10 and De Stio, while Kate Thompson earned second-team All-Ivy honors. Cornell also had the second most NFHCA Academic Squad members in school history with five selections, including three-time honoree Katie Kirnan 10. The 2008 season was another great one for the Big Red as it completed the year with an 11-5 record overall and 6-1 mark in the conference to finish in second place in the league rankings for the third straight season. The Big Red also posted a winning conference record for the fourth straight year, marking the first time in program history that the Big Red has had four straight winning seasons in Ivy play. The team set the school mark for overall victories (11) and conference victories (6) in a season as well as setting the school record for goals (45), assists (38) and points (128) in a season. Following the season, Catie De Stio 11 and Belen Martinez 09 were named to the 2008 Longstreth/NFHCA Division I Mideast Region All-America teams, with De Stio taking first-team honors and Martinez earning second-team accolades. De Stio became Cornells first first-team selection since 2002, while Martinez earned the distinction of becoming Cornells first-ever three-time Mideast Region All-American selection. Martinez was also named to the NFHCA Senior All-Star team, becoming just one of two Ivy League players named to the 38 player squad. Cornell also had five players named All-Ivy, the most selections in program history. De Stio, a unanimous selection, was joined on the first-team by Martinez and goalkeeper Melanie Jue 10, while forward Abbi Horn 09 earned second-team honors and midfielder Kate Thompson 11 was an honorable mention selection. In 2007, Cornell completed the season with a 10-7 record overall and a mark of 5-2 in the conference to finish tied for second in the league rankings for the second straight year. The Big Red posted a winning conference record for the third straight year, marking the first time in program history that the Big Red has had three straight winning seasons in Ivy play. The team tied the then-school mark for overall victories (10) and conference victories (5) in a season and featured two important wins as Cornell snapped a 16-game winless streak against then-No. 17 Princeton before defeating then-No. 19 Syracuse for the first time since the 1983 season. Hornibrook also notched her 200th career win (her 29th with the Big Red) on Oct. 28, as the Big Red defeated Siena, 4-2. Four Big Red players earned postseason Ivy League honors in 2007, as Martinez and Brenna Gulotta 09 were named first-team All-Ivy, while Thompson and De Stio made the honorable mention squad. The selections marked the first time since 1997 that Cornell had two first-teamers, while the four total selections were the most since 1991. Gulotta and Martinez then went on to be named to the 2007 Longstreth/NFHCA Division I Mideast Region All-America second team. It was the first time since 2002 that Cornell has placed more than one player on an all-region team. In 2006, the Big Red finished the season tied for second in the Ivy League with a 4-3 record, giving Cornell back-to-back winning conference records for the first time in program history. Despite injuries to several key players, the team still battled its way to a 7-9 record, and was highly competitive game-in and game-out with six of its losses coming by a single goal, including three in overtime. Following the season, Martinez, Katlyn Donoghue `09 and Sarah Miller 07 all earned second-team All-Ivy honors. In just her second season at the helm, Coach Hornibrook led Cornell to one of its best seasons in recent history. The team set a then-school record for wins with 10 and tied the mark for Ivy League wins at the time with four victories vs. Ancient Eight opponents. The team won seven more contests in 2005 than it had in the previous year, making it the greatest single-season turnaround in program history. The Big Red also improved on the defensive end of the field, holding opponents to nearly 50 percent fewer shots than the previous season. Alyssa DePaola 09 was named first-team All-Ivy, while Blair Corcoran 06 and Martinez garnered second-team accolades. Martinez also earned second-team STX/NFCHA All-Region honors. The Big Red made great competitive strides in Hornibrooks first year with wins over Lehigh, Yale and Rutgers. Danielle Dunn `05 earned first-team All-Ivy and second-team STX/NFCHA All-Region honors, while classmate Gina Testa was an honorable mention All-Ivy pick. Also, the Cornell offense scored nearly a half goal per game more than it did during the 2003 campaign. The sixth head coach of field hockey at Cornell, Hornibrook came to the East Hill after a successful nine-year stint as head coach at Houghton College from 1995-2003. Her teams earned a record of 111-39-4 during that time, including a school-record 16 wins in 2003. In 1997, her small college team defeated two-time defending NCAA Division II champion Bloomsburg University 2-1, and recorded a similar feat in 1998, defeating NCAA Division II runner-up Lock Haven 4-2. Her Houghton squads posted 15-win seasons in 1998, 1999 and 2001. Hornibrook, who was inducted into the Prince Edward Island Sports Hall of Fame in 2010, is a graduate of the University of New Brunswick in Canada where she was a four-time all-conference and four-time national tournament all-star selection. She was the Prince Edward Island Female Athlete of the Year in 1980 and 1981 and was selected to play on the Canadian national team and competed with the squad from 1979-83. The team earned a bronze medal in the 1981 European Championships in Berlin before finishing fifth at the 1981 World Cup in Argentina. She also played on the 1986 Canadian national championship British Columbia team. Following her collegiate and national team experiences, Hornibrook started her coaching career as the coach of the New Brunswick provincial team, leading the squad to a gold medal at the 1989 Canada Games. She went on to coach at her alma mater, leading the team to a 60-8-6 record from 1990-1995. During that period, her teams never lost a conference game, winning five AUAA conference titles and two silver medals at the Canadian University championships. Twenty-five of her players earned all-conference honors and one was selected as the national player of the year. Eleven of her players were also junior and senior national team members. She was selected as the conference coach of the year four times and was once selected as the national university coach of the year. Hornibrook and her husband, Dwight, an assistant with the Big Red womens soccer team, currently reside in Lansing. They have two daughters, Kathryn, who played soccer for Houghton College, and Emily.Donna Hornibrook

Simpson spent the previous two seasons with national power Maryland, helping his alma mater to a combined record of 41-6, a pair of conference titles, an ACC Tournament title, and consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances, including a trip to the 2013 Final Four.   In total, Simpson has had three stints with the Terps program, where he launched his career as an undergraduate coach and helped the 1987 team to the programs first-ever national title before graduating in 1988. He joined the staff in a full-time capacity as an assistant coach in 1995 and stayed on through 2003. During that time, he helped Maryland win the 1999 national championship and advance to four Final Fours.   Prior to his latest go-around with Maryland, Simpson spent two years as an assistant coach at Syracuse (2011, 2012), where he  helped lead the Orange to a 38-7 combined record, one BIG EAST Tournament title, one BIG EAST regular season title, two NCAA Tournaments, and one Final Four. Simpson joined the Syracuse staff after a four-year stint as an assistant at New Hampshire in which the team won the America East regular season title in 2010. Prior to UNH, he worked at UMass, where he served as assistant coach from 2003-06.   Simpson also has international coaching experience, most recently being selected to assist with the US U19 team duing the 2015-16 season. He was also an assistant with the U.S. Womens National Team (1997-98) that included the Hockey World Cup in May 1998 and the Champions Trophy in 1997. In addition, he has coached at numerous A and B Camps and been active in the USFHA Futures Program, including serving as Regional Director and Director of Coaching of the Chesapeake Region.   His coaching resume also includes the EPTC Regional Team, the Tidewater Tempest and the New England Fire. He also founded and coached the Washington Wolves Hockey Club.   Simpson was an internationally-rated umpire manager. He umpired at the Indoor World Cup in Leipzig, the Pan Am Games, the Pan Am Cup and the World Cup qualifier in Edinburgh in 2001.Steve Simpson