Following the destruction of Marsha Dodson field last year, the field hockey team was left without a home field and dedicated practice place, much to the dismay of million dollar donor and alumni and former tennis athlete, Marsha Dodson ’75 M.R.P. ’76. Now, the field is ready for the undefeated team’s fifth game of the season against No. 17 Yale, according to Cornell Athletics.
“We are all thrilled that the University got the field done quicker than any of us anticipated,” Dodson told The Sun. “Kudos to President Kotlikoff who is the reason the project was finished and the project team.”
The team played its first two home games against Colgate University and Mercyhurst University indoors at Barton Hall following an email announcement from athletic director Nicki Moore in July, telling the team that the field was “unlikely to be ready” for the start of the season.
Dodson also told The Sun that it is a “real honor” to have the field named after her again and that she is excited that the field is “finally playable” given the team’s successful start to the season. Additionally, she is confident that the new facilities will help with the team's recruiting.
“With a world class facility and world class coaching I have no doubt that the program will thrive and recruit top talent,” Dodson said.
In an email statement to The Sun, Athletic Director Nicki Moore told The Sun that she was grateful for the support and leadership of top University administrators. She also thanked “lead supporters” Karin Kukral ’82 and Dodson who “helped build momentum” for the project’s completion.
“Today’s inaugural competition at Cornell’s new field hockey facility is both a competitive upgrade and a proud statement about our commitments – especially to women’s sports and to expanding opportunities for physical activity and competition for all Cornell students," Moore wrote.
The construction of the new field was received with backlash by many Ithaca residents and local environmentalists, who cited the potential presence of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances — commonly known as PFAS — as a major environmental concern.
bethany ojalehto mays, Cornell on Fire activist, a group advocating for climate justice, and former professor of Human Development told The Sun that she is “disappointed” in the University’s decision to support “a toxic plastic playing field.”
“As a former Cornell athletic recruit, I want to see [Cornell] pushing the envelope on climate action and leading systemic changes to unsustainable sporting practices,” mays said. “As a former Cornell professor, I want to see Cornell relying on the best available scientific evidence while pushing back against industry misinformation that paints plastic fields as safe for humans and the environment.”
The concern caused the project to be delayed until the Town of Ithaca Planning board granted the field a “negative determination” of environmental impact, deeming the project to “not result in any significant adverse environmental impact,” according to the Board’s website.
According to an article from Cornell Athletics, the turf “has been approved for practices and competition” even as construction of Phase II of the field continues. Once this phase is complete, the new Marsha Dodson field will include a team clubhouse, multi-level press box, digital scoreboard and a coaching and recruiting suite.
The field hockey team is scheduled to take on the Bulldogs at 4 p.m. on Friday.
“To go out on that field and win it would be a great victory and I don’t see any reason that the team won’t win tonight,” Dodson said. “We are all behind them, win or lose.”
Zeinab Faraj is a member of the class of 2028 in the College of Arts and Sciences. She is the features editor on the 143rd Editorial Board and was the assistant sports editor of the 143rd Editorial Board. You can reach her at zfaraj@cornellsun.com.
