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US
Field Hockey Women Continue Collegiate Challenge at Wake
Forest, Princeton
Colorado
Springs, Colo.
– The U.S. Field Hockey women’s
national team continues its four-game Collegiate Challenge this week when the team visits Wake
Forest on Thursday, Sept. 5 before concluding the tour at Princeton, Saturday, Sept. 7.
Game time is
scheduled for 7 p.m. at Wake Forest with a 1 p.m. start at Princeton.
After clinching
a spot in this fall’s World Cup, the U.S. team helped open the college season with
the series of games against last year’s NCAA semifinalists. The U.S. opened the tour
with a rain-soaked 1-0 win over defending national champion Michigan on Aug. 23 before
defeating last year’s NCAA runner-up Maryland, 10-0, on Aug. 25.
“It’s
been great,” said U.S. coach Tracey Belbin, whose team is preparing for the World
Cup, Nov. 24-Dec. 8 in Perth, Australia. “It’s exciting for the team to return
to their schools, and the welcome we’ve received has been fantastic. We also need to
get in as many games as we can, so the fact that we’re still playing is a bonus.”
The games will
represent a homecoming for former Wake Forest All-America selection Jen Everett (‘01)
and former Princeton All-America Melanie Meerschwam (‘01).
Wake Forest will
host the U.S. team after opening its season against Big Ten opponents Iowa on Aug. 31 and Michigan
on Sept. 1.
“This is a
great experience,” said Wake Forest head coach Jennifer Averill. “You couldn’t
ask for a better prep going into the season. It’s a great opportunity for the college
players to get some exposure playing against the best in the country and it’s great
for the younger kids with aspirations of playing at the next level.”
Wake Forest went
16-5 season last year to earn a second straight trip to the NCAA semifinals. Tickets for
the Wake Forest game are $5 and are available at the gate the day of the game.
At Princeton, the U.S. will face a Tiger team that
on returns all 11 starters from last year’s 17-3 team. The team includes members of
U.S. Field Hockey’s national junior teams including All-America selections Ilvy
Friebe, Claire Miller and goalkeeper Kelly Baril.
“The national team is
the best that the U.S. has to offer,” said Princeton coach Beth Bozman. “It is a
great opportunity for us to get a chance to play them, and to see how we compare to the
best. The advice that I have always passed on to my team about these players is to learn
from them. They are all such talented athletes and possess unique qualities — watch
them, study them, and try to elevate your game to their level.”
Tickets for the Princeton
game are $6 for adults and $4 for children and are available at the gate the day of the
game.
The U.S. roster for the
games includes Kate Barber (West Chester, Pa.), Katie Kauffman Beach (West Lawn, Pa.),
Natalie Dawson (Berlin, N.J.), Jill Dedman (Orange, Conn.), Jenny Everett (Rutland, Vt.),
Tracey Fuchs (Ann Arbor, Mich.), Kelli Gannon (Escondido, Calif.), Tara Jelley (Greenfield,
Mass.), Robyn Kenney (Readington, N.J.), Tracey Larson (Morrisville, Pa.), Carrie Lingo
(Rehoboth Beach, Del.), Melanie Meerschwam (Amstelveen, NED), Jill Reeve (Hoosick Falls,
N.Y), Keli Smith (Selinsgrove, Pa.), Mimi Smith (Virginia Beach, Va.), Peggy Storrar
(Mahopac, N.Y.), Carla Tagliente (Cortland, N.Y.) and (Abbey
Woolley (Ocean City, N.J.).
www.usfieldhockey.com
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