Six Cornell seniors have just wrapped up their playing careers as the class with the most wins in Cornell field hockey history. Over four years, the women compiled a 41-22 record overall (.650) and 20-8 in the Ivy League (.714). They never finished below third in the Ancient Eight and were the conference runner-up three times.

But those close to the program know that the progression upward didn't begin -- and won't end -- with the Class of 2011, which includes Catie De Stio, Mattie Prodanovic, Sara Sanders, Steph Sanders, Liz Schovee and Kate Thompson.

The success has its roots in its leadership over the years, pride in the program and in Cornell as well as in the Cornell field hockey traditions of pregame milkshakes and locker-room dance parties.

"There certainly isn't any nutritional basis to having [milkshakes] the night before a game," explains head coach Donna Hornibrook, "but it serves as a great team bonding experience."

The team also comes together before each game for a locker-room dance party, which concludes each time with singing the alma mater.

"The dance party is another way for them to come together as a team," says Hornibrook. "And singing the alma mater is a great tradition because it shows off pride in the university. And that's a pride that's been handed down. It's those things, pride and leadership, which were here when I arrived at Cornell, and we've seen that flow through each class we've had."

When Hornibrook joined Cornell in January 2004, she had a solid program, but it was undergoing a bit of turmoil. The team had struggled to a 3-13 finish the previous season under an interim head coach and then lost seven players to graduation, including an All-American in Carissa Mirasol.

"The program was going through a rough patch but we had great kids to build with," Hornibrook explains.

Hornibrook has built the program on her core beliefs -- a team-first attitude, hard work, strong leadership and pride in the program and the university. She also looks for student-athletes who have the potential to lead, even as underclassmen.

"If you have underclassmen who buy into what you do, then you have a legacy of leadership that gets passed down through the team," she explains. "You need emerging leadership. When you graduate leaders then you have others waiting to step in. The leadership that this class gave our team led to our success this year and has also provided a great example for our younger players going forward."

This year's seniors were standouts, she noted. All six started for at least two years, and four earned All-Ivy honors following this season, including De Stio, who became just the second Big Red player to earn three All-Ivy first team honors. Thompson was also a four-time All-Ivy selection, while twin sisters Sara and Steph Sanders and Prodanovic and Schovee made up one of the best defensive backfields that Hornibrook has ever coached.

"From the time they stepped on campus, this class made an impact," says Hornibrook. "All were great players, but ... when they came together as a unit, they were stronger than they were as individuals."

Despite how significant their leaving may be, Hornibrook seems unfazed.

"We're losing some pretty substantial players, but I feel good about the players who we return," explains Hornibrook. "Every team is different, but hopefully the program stays consistent. We're losing great kids, but we've been able to recruit great kids, and that is because as the reputation of this program continues to grow, student-athletes see that this is a great place to play. Recruits see that this is a program that is inspiring to compete at the highest level possible and that they are going to get a world-class education."

Julie Greco is associate director of Cornell Athletic Communications.