With a 29-6 romping of Skidmore College on Wednesday, the men’s polo team has improved to 6-1 on the season. With the Red’s only loss coming to Virginia, Cornell has beaten the likes of Cowtown Polo Club, Yale, UConn, Harvard, UConn again and Skidmore. The team has yet to be defeated at the place it calls home –– the Oxley Equestrian Center –– where it awaits Texas A&M and Virginia later this weekend.

Microcosmic of its season, the Red received solid contributions from many different players in its victory over the Thoroughbreds. Freshman Connor Pardell scored 11 goals, junior captain Max Constant posted five, senior Dan Grew added four, juniors David Dunstan and Steve True and freshman Justin Schick scored two apiece, and sophomore Matteo Abbruzzese and freshman Branden Van Loon added one each. The ponies, too, were credited with a goal.

“I’m happy with the way the season’s been going so far,” said head coach David Eldredge, “We’ve added new players to the lineup to our core of Max Constant and Dan Grew, and I’m very pleased with the way they’ve been able to gel together.”

The Red has gotten solid play from its freshmen –– National Interscholastic Men’s Player of the Year Van Loon, and his classmate, Pardell.

“Branden is a great talent,” Eldredge said. “We are very happy to have someone with his skills on our team. I’m particularly happy with the way his playing style has mixed so well with that of Max Constant. It was more seamless than I had expected it to be.”

In regards to Pardell, Eldredge said, “Connor has been doing good things. He’s stepped up a few of his skills, and we’re very pleased with the way he’s been coming along.”

However, Eldredge, who happens to be the winningest coach in Cornell history with a 644-214-24 (.744) record, has his sights set on greater achievements.

After finishing last season with a 16-5 record, and capturing the Eastern Regional title, behind the leadership of all-region selection Bobby Harvey and all-region and national all-tournament pick Max Constant, the Red advanced to the national championships at the University of Virginia.

However, after defeating Westmont College in the quarterfinals, Cornell fell short to Texas A&M in the semifinals.

“Our goal is to get back to the national championships,” Eldredge said. “We have a tall order to climb, with Texas A&M, who beat us last year in the semis, returning most of their players. Virginia also returned most of their players, and they have a great team.”

“Obviously, we have a tough challenge ahead of us,” he added, “but we have to take things one step at a time. We need to first defend our regional title, and then from there, hopefully we can go on and win the national title.”