USA Field Hockey News

USA Field Hockey Women to Host Australia

Colorado Springs, Colo.—The USA Field Hockey Women's National Team will continue its preparations for July's Rabobank Champions Challenge when the team hosts Australia June 4-11 at the USA Field Hockey National Training Center.

Joined by new head coach Lee Bodimeade, the USA will take on the world's third-ranked Australians in a four-game test series, June 4,5, 8 and 11. Games begin at 7 p.m. on the 4th and 5th with matches starting at 6 p.m. on the 8th and 11th. All matches are open to the public and there is no charge for admission.

Australia ranks behind only No. 1 The Netherlands and No. 2 Argentina in the world rankings.

The series comes on the heels of the USA women's tour of New Zealand where the team went 1-4 against the Kiwis. The matches were the first international competition for the USA women since the Pan American Cup in April of 2004 and signaled the international debut of eight USA players.  Sarah Dawson (Berlin, N.J.), Kelly Doton (Greenfield, Mass.), Lauren Crandall (Doyelstown, Pa.), Claire Laubach (Bristow, Va.), Lauren Powley (Mountaintop, Pa.), Sara Silvetti (Wapwallopen, Pa.), Barabara Weinberg (Louisville, Ky.) and high schooler Katie O'Donnell (Blue Bell, Pa.) all made earned their first international caps during the series.

The USA is expected to select its team for the Australia matches just prior to the beginning of the series.

Against Australia, the USA women will meet a team that features eight members from Australia's 2004 Olympic team including Nicole Arrold, Toni Cronk, Melanie Twitt, Emily Halliday, Angie Skirving, Suzie Faulkner, Karen Smith and Rachel Imison. Australia coach Frank Murray's staff also includes former USA women's coach Tracey Belbin. Beblin headed the USA women from 1999-2003.

The USA last faced Australia at the 2002 World Cup in Perth where Australia won, 4-0.

While the USA women will use the series to prepare for the Champions Challenge, Australia is training for the Champions Trophy to be held in November in Canberra.

At the Rabobank Champions Challenge, the USA will take on England, Japan, New Zealand, South Africa and Spain July 8-16 in Virginia Beach.

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