Last year, Julie Gentner Murphy was contacted by a former Cortland field hockey teammate who suggested she try out for the inaugural World Masters Hockey Pan American Continental Cup.
Murphy took that encouraging thought and started training extensively before heading to Miami in March for a tryout. In May, she made the United States’ over-40 women’s master’s roster.
The team finished fourth in the event that recently concluded in Buenos Aires, ending with a 2-1 loss to Chile in the bronze medal game. The game-winner came with 45 seconds remaining.
Barb Wachowiak, another Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Famer, was on the Americans’ over-60 team, which also reached the bronze medal game and finished fourth.
Excelling as a field hockey player is nothing new for Murphy, a Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Famer who played at Williamsville South and then was a three-time All-American at Cortland and the 2001 NCAA Player of the Year when the Red Dragons won the Division III national title. Murphy’s daughter, Ella, is an All-Western New York and all-state field hockey player at Nichols, where her mom works as a coach with Beth Stone.
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