MOUNT VERNON – After dominating the field for four women's lacrosse seasons and becoming Cornell's all-time leader in scoring and assists, recent graduate
Cece Zanoni is taking her talents overseas — continuing her career and studies in England this fall.
This September, Zanoni will embark on an exciting postgraduate year in the UK, where she will spend 12 months as a student-athlete. She'll play another season of college lacrosse while working toward her master's degree.
Receiving several offers from institutions across the UK, Zanoni is heading to one of the country's premier lacrosse programs. While pursuing her master's degree in psychology, the Mundelein, Ill., native will continue to advance her game and contribute to her team's pursuit of a national championship.
Over recent years, the UK has become a popular destination for former student-athletes as different eligibility rules permit students to compete alongside their graduate education.
While the chance to play another collegiate season initially caught her attention, several other factors also influenced Zanoni's decision to make the move to England. Master's degrees in the UK take only 12 months to complete, tuition is typically cheaper, and former U.S. college athletes can often use their playing experience to earn substantial athletic scholarships.
A three-time all-conference attacker for the Rams, Zanoni was named Cornell's 2025 Ellen Whale Senior Female Athlete of the Year. She accumulated 249 points, 182 goals and 67 assists in four seasons on the Hilltop.
Zanoni was supported throughout the entire process by UK-based company
Play Overseas, which provides a free service to graduating and former student-athletes, helping them to identify opportunities to further both their sporting career and education overseas.
Play Overseas is currently recruiting student-athletes for the Fall 2025 intake and beyond. Any student who wishes to explore the possibility can register their interest via the following link:
https://www.playoverseas.co.uk/apply/.
