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United Airlines Field Hockey League Opens in Chapel Hill           
                                   

The United Airlines Field Hockey League, U.S. Field Hockey’s elite-level summer series, opens its fifth season May 31-June 2 at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.     

      Games begin at 5 p.m. Friday at North Carolina’s Francis E. Henry Stadium and resume at 8 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday. There is no charge for admission to the games.

      Initiated in 1998, the League features seven franchise teams comprised of top players from around the country including U.S. Olympians, U.S. National and Junior national team members, collegiate All-Americans and high school standouts.  The League encourages mixed-aged teams which allows athletes as young as 15 to play on the same teams with players with years of international experience. Players earned spots on the League rosters through open trials held in the early spring at locations throughout the eastern United States.

            Rosters of the 2002 United Airlines Field Hockey League teams 8  Olympians, 16 collegiate All-Americans, 15 high school All-Americans and 44 members of the U.S. National, Under-18, Under-23 and Under-16 teams. The teams also include five Honda Award winners representing the top collegiate player of the year including Marina DiGiacomo (Old Dominion 2000-01, Rush), Autumn Welsh (U Maryland 2001-02, Tempest), Sally Northcroft (Ball State, 1999-00, Tempest) Cindy Werley (North Carolina, 1995-96 and 1996-97) and Jennifer Averill (Northwestern, 1986-87, Charm).

      In addition, the League features some of the nation’s top coaches including Princeton head coach Beth Bozman (Metro Rush), Old Dominion head coach Beth Anders (Tidewater Tempest), Temple Univ. head coach Lauren Fuchs (Philadelphia Fury), Michigan asst. coach Nancy Cox (Midwest Cyclones),  Boston Univ. assistant Heather Moles and University of North Carolina associate head coach Nick Conway (Southern Charm).

      With 35 of the 38 players on its roster with ties to the University of North Carolina, neighboring Wake Forest and Duke Universities or area high schools, three-time defending league champion Southern Charm opens defense of its title with the home field advantage at Chapel Hill.

      The UNC/Charm alumni expected to see action in the first week include Olympian and two Werley, as well as former U.S. national team goalkeeper and UNC assistant coach  Jana Withrow, recent UNC stars Abbey Woolley, Meredith Keller, Stephanie Fuller and UNC Player of the Year Abby Martin. The team also includes Wake Forest head coach Jennifer Averill, Wake All-Americans Heather Aughinbaugh and Kelly Doton, goalkeeper Katie Ridd, former US National team member Kelly Dostal and all-region selection Maria Whitehead. Duke is represented by Blue Devil head coach and 1996 Olympian Liz Tchou, assistant coach Werley and U23 team member Kim Gogola.  High school All-American and U.S. Under-18 team member Amy Stopford of Durham Academy is also expected to see action for the Charm.

      League play continues the weekend of June 14-16 at the University of Massachusetts before concluding with the League semifinals and championship game, July 6-7 at the U.S. Field Hockey National Training Center in Virginia Beach.