US Field Hockey News

	Rachel Dawson and the USA Junior National Team hope to earn a spot in the summer League semifinals

Colorado Springs, Colo. - Teams in USA Field Hockey's elite Summer League will look to book their spots for the championship finals at the teams enter the final weekend of double round-robin play, June 26-27 at the USA Field Hockey National Training Center in Virginia Beach.

Following the first weekend of play June 12-13, five-time defending champion Southern Charm sits atop the standings board with a 4-2-1 record.  The Charm is followed closely by the USA Junior National Team with a  4-3-0 and an enthusiastic spirit  junior team coach Tracey Fuchs hopes  can carry her team into the championship weekend.

"We have some great young talent," says Fuchs on her team comprised f members of the USA Under-21 and Under-19 squads. "To make the final we need to continue improving each game, and grow as a team.  We have had limited practice opportunities, so each time we play, we get more comfortable with each other, and that is going to help us tremendously."

Fuchs also sees a tight battle brewing for the four semifinal positions.

"The teams are really even this year which will make this weekend's competition really fun," said Fuchs. "It will probably come down to the last games on Sunday to see who will compete in the finals, and that's a benefit to practice these type of pressure situations."

The U.S. Junior Team highlighted the first weekend of play with a surprising 2-1 win over their senior sisters on the USA Residency Squad. The loss was the only one suffered by the Residency Squad in league play.

"I think they really enjoyed that game," said Fuchs of her team's upset victory. "It was a really good game, probably our best of the weekend." 

A first time entry in the league, the USA Field Hockey national residency squad owns a 6-1-0 record, but is not eligible for the league championship. The U.S. squad will play a pair exhibition games against two of the semifinalists during the championship weekend.

Rounding out the standings, the New England Eclipse currently sits in third place with a 3-2-2 record, followed by the Metro Rush (3-3-1) in fourth place, the Tidewater Tempest (2-3-2) in fifth, Midwest Cyclones (1-4-2)  in seventh and Philadelphia Fury (1-6-0) in eighth. The top four teams qualify for the league semifinals, July 3 in Virginia Beach. The championship and consolation games are scheduled for July 4.

All games are open to the public at no charge. Games are played throughout the day on Saturday and Sunday beginning at 8 a.m. with the final games scheduled for 4:30 p.m. each day.

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