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US Field Hockey Women Unable to Compete in World Cup Qualifier; FIH to Allow Alternative Qualifying Series
Following the tragic events in the United States over the last week, the US Field Hockey Women's National Team will not compete in the World Cup Qualifying Tournament, scheduled for Sept. 17-30, in Amiens/Abbeville, France. The U.S. team will, however, have the opportunity to qualify for the 2002 World Cup through a provision by the International Hockey Federation (FIH). Facing what the FIH termed an "impossible situation," the U.S. team will now be allowed to qualify for the 2002 World Cup in a best of three match series against the Qualifier's 7th place team. Originally, the top seven teams at the Qualifier were to earn a berth in the World Cup, scheduled for Nov. 26 - Dec. 8, 2002 in Perth, Australia. "Our hearts are still heavy over the events of this last week," said U.S. Field Hockey President, Sharon Taylor. "I am very proud of the brave, young women on our team who were willing to participate under these most extreme circumstances. Obviously, this is not the way we want to qualify. Every player would have liked to settle it on the field. But given the circumstances with our inability to get to the event and the rules of the tournament, we have no alternative. The FIH has been very sensitive to our plight, and this allows us to protect our players, yet gives us the opportunity to qualify." The closing of U.S. airports and subsequent cancellation of many international flights, grounded the U.S. team, and postponed its conditional arrival in France until midway through the first week of the tournament. According to FIH rules, a forfeit of a single match at the tournament would call for forfeiture of all tournament matches. Canada and Uruguay, the other two teams representing the Americas at the tournament, had arrived in Europe before Tuesday's tragic events. "Despite every effort being made on the part of the U.S. Field Hockey Association, it is now clear that it is impossible for their team to compete in France," said FIH Hon. Secretary General Peter Cohen. "Because of the extraordinary circumstances about this situation, the FIH believes that in the overall interests of hockey, it is only fair and just that the USA not be deprived of an opportunity to qualify for the World Cup despite their inability to compete in this tournament." The FIH plan calls for the U.S. team to compete in a best-of-three game series against the seventh place finisher at the Qualifying Tournament. The team placing 7th at the Qualifier will have the opportunity to propose the location of the series with the approval of the FIH. The series will be played in early 2002 and preferably before Feb. 28. The U.S. had entered the Qualifying Tournament as the number two seed and was scheduled to compete in Pool B with Belgium, Canada, Japan, Lithuania, Malaysia, Russia and Scotland. The tournament's top seed, England is joined in Pool A with host France, India, Ireland, Kazakstan, Ukraine and Uruguay. Kenya dropped out of the tournament early last week for financial reasons. U.S. coach Tracey Belbin's team scheduled to compete in the Qualifier included 1998 World Cup veterans Kate Barber (West Chester, Pa.), Tracey Fuchs (Ann Arbor, Mich.), Katie Kauffman (West Lawn, Pa.), Jill Reeve (Hoosick Falls, N.Y.) and Peggy Storrar (Mahopac, N.Y.), in addition to Natalie Dawson (Berlin, N.J.), Kelli Gannon (Escondido, Calif.), Tara Jelley (Greenfield, Mass.), Tracey Larson (Morrisville, Pa.), Carrie Lingo (Rehoboth Beach, Del.), Kristen McCann (Allentown, Pa.), Melanie Meerschwam (Amstelveen, The Netherlands), Kim Miller (Virginia Beach, Va.), Mimi Smith (Virginia Beach, Va.), Carla Tagliente (Cortland, N.Y.) and Amy Tran (Grantville, Pa.).
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