ITHACA, N.Y. – Former Cornell standout field hockey player Kate Thompson '11 was among 18 athletes chosen to represent Team Canada at the International Hockey Federation (FIH) Olympic Qualification Tournament in New Delhi, India from February 18-26. It will be the final opportunity for the team to qualify for the 2012 Olympic Games in London.
 
The Canadian Women will compete against South Africa, India, Italy, Ukraine and Poland in the round-robin tournament. The top two finishers after the round-robin will compete in a final match, with only the winner earning a berth in the Olympic Games.
 
“We share the same goal of every team that has been training for the past three years - qualify for the 2012 Olympics,” said Louis Mendonca, the Women's National Head Coach.  “The plan for the next few weeks is to improve the weaknesses that the Pan American Games revealed and to perfect our strengths.”  
 
A team co-captain as a senior and four-year All-Ivy League performer as a starting midfielder for the Big Red, Thompson ended her career ranked in Cornell's top 20 in career assists (ninth – 13), points (11th – 37) and goals (16th – 12). She was a second-team All-Ivy pick as a junior and an honorable mention All-Ivy pick as a freshman, sophomore and senior. She was instrumental in helping Cornell to a cumulative 42-22 record, the most wins over a four-year period by any Big Red team. The squad also went 20-8 in Ivy League play with three second-place finishes.
 
To follow Thompson and Team Canada in the Olympic Qualifying Tournament, visit http://www.fieldhockey.ca/Women2012OQ