U.S. Women to Host Germany, Great Britain, Japan  in Atlantic Cup

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- Four teams with Olympic aspirations will look to continue their quests when the U.S. Field Hockey women's national team hosts Germany, Great Britain and Japan in the 2nd International Atlantic Cup, Oct. 8-12, at the U.S. Field Hockey National Training Center in Virginia Beach.

Presented by Cox Communications, the tournament features four of the world's top ten ranked teams, and could provide a preview of next spring's Olympic Qualifying Tournament.

Depending on the results of the continental qualifiers scheduled for the summer and fall of 2003, the four countries could be headed for a rematch at the Olympic Qualifying Tournament, March 19-28 in Auckland, New Zealand. The top four or five teams at the 10-team qualifier will join the five continental champions at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens.

The U.S. will get its first opportunity to qualify for the Olympic Games at the 2003 Pan American Games, Aug. 2-13 in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, where a first place finish awould give the U.S. the continent's automatic berth in Athens. However anything less than a Pan Am gold medal would send the USA to the Olympic Qualifier based its current #9 world ranking and FIH procedures.

The world's 10th-ranked team, Japan may already be looking ahead to Auckland after a third place finish at last year's Asian Games relegated the team to Olympic Qualifier consideration. China won the Asian Games championship to earn the automatic Olympic berth, while runner-up Korea, the world's 6th ranked team, is expected to join Japan as part of the Olympic Qualifier field.

Germany and Great Britain (competing as England) could go a long way in determining their Olympic qualifying fates at the European Nation's Cup, Sept. 1-13 in Barcelona, Spain. The two teams will both compete in Pool B of the event along with World Cup teams Ukraine (14th) and Ireland (15th) as well as Italy and Wales. World Cup runner-up The Netherlands heads pool A along with Spain (8th), Scotland (12th), Russia (16th), Azerbaijan and France. Both Germany and Great Britain would become eligible for the Olympic Qualifier in the event they do not win the tournament.

Recent games between the teams in the 2003 International Atlantic Cup have produced thrilling moments in the sport including the USA's penalty stroke victory over Japan in the 9th/10th place game of the World Cup and England's second-half surge to erase a 2-1 halftime deficit and defeat Germany 7-2 in corssover play of the 2002 World Cup. In other recent matchups between the teams, England and Japan played to a 1-1 draw at teh World Cup, while England held on to defeat the U.S. 1-0 in Perth. Germany used last minute goals to down the USA, 2-1, and Japan, 3-2, at July's Champion's Challenge in Catania, Italy.

The USA women are the defending champions at the International Atlantic Cup after winning the inaugural 2002 event over a field that included Ireland, Scotland and Mexico.

Tickets for the 2003 International Atlantic Cup are available for advanced purchase at  $8 for adults and $4 for students, or at the gate for $10 for adults and $5 for students. Additional ticket information is available by calling 719-866-4371 or visiting www.usfieldhockey.com