Press Releases

Apr 14, 2000
Athletic Administrator By Day, Hockey Star By Night; Wins US Title

Contact:
Darren Johnson
(631) 287 8313
Fax: (631) 283 4081

A pioneer of women's ice hockey in the U.S., Long Island Hurricane captain Cindy Corwith led her Senior-B team to a national title Sunday with a 3-0 win over the Southern California Rays in the U.S. Women's Hockey Championships in Troy, Michigan.

Corwith, who works at Southampton College of Long Island University as Associate Athletic Director and softball coach, scored the winning goal in the semifinals vs. Team Connecticut. The 43-year-old defenseman started playing ice hockey on the frozen ponds of her Water Mill youth. In those days, few women played hockey and she had to look long and hard before she found SUNY-Cortland, where she received her BSE and MS degrees and which was one of just a handful of schools with a women's hockey squad.

As head coach of the Southampton College Women's Softball Team, she is entering her eighth season. With former co-coach Ed Goodhines, Corwith led the Lady Colonials to the New York Collegiate Athletic Conference co-championship in 1991, and the championship in 1992. The team reached the ECAC tournament both years.

It is no coincidence softball began as a club program at Southampton in 1980. That would be the same year Corwith was hired as Coordinator of Women's Athletics for the College. Her current titles include Associate Athletic Director and Sports Information Director.

During her diverse 20-year career in the College's Athletic Department, Corwith's resume has not been limited to softball. The Southampton native helped usher in women's programs in soccer and basketball, and coached the men's tennis team during its first 10 years. She also teaches classes including tennis, badminton and volleyball.

Whatever the sport, Corwith can maximize the individual talents of student-athletes. "One of the keys to coaching is a being a good teacher," said Athletic Director Mary Topping. "Regardless of whether Cindy is coaching at the beginner or an advanced level, she is an excellent teacher of skills."

"I'm fortunate to have had the chance to coach a lot of gifted athletes in so many sports," said Corwith, who continues to play competitive softball each summer. "Considering this is a small college, I've seen plenty of talent come through our doors."

At SUNY-Cortland, where she earned two degrees in Physical Education (a BSE in 1979 and an MS in 1980), she was a charter member of the women's hockey team as it jumped from club to varsity status.

Corwith continues to skate competitively as captain of the Long Island Hurricanes, a team in the Mid-Atlantic Women's Ice Hockey League. Just prior to her team winning the 1998 regular season title, Corwith was profiled in Newsday as a pioneer women's hockey player on Long Island.

The lack of a girls' tennis team did not deter Corwith from becoming a four-sport athlete at Southampton High School, where she joined the boys' squad. She lives in Water Mill with her husband, Dan McKeever.