USA Field Hockey News

USA Field Hockey's Rachel Dawson Nominated for FIH Young Player of the Year

The USA's Rachel Dawson is among the nominees for the FIH Young Player of the Year Award

MADRID (10/05/06) –  USA Field Hockey defender Rachel Dawson is among the six nominees for the International Hockey Federation's Young Player of the Year as selected by the World Cup teams and international media.

Awarded annually to the top woman player under the age of 23, the Young Player of the Year will be selected from a ballot of players and coaches competing at the Samsung World Cup currently underway in Madrid.

In her second year with the USA National Team, Dawson, 21, has competed in 30 international matches for the USA and has helped the USA to a 2-2-1 record at the World Cup. A senior at the Univ. of North Carolina, she is a three-time All-America selection and two-time ACC Defensive Player of the Year. She has missed the 2006 collegiate season while working with the USA national team in preparation for the World Cup.

Dawson is joined on the ballot by Madonna Blyth of Australia, Crista Cullen of England, Mi Hyun Park of Korea, Esther Termens of Spain and Naomi Van As of The Netherlands.

Dawson is the first U.S. player to be named a finalist for the FIH Young Player of the Year award.

Dawson and the USA resume World Cup play on Oct. 6 against Germany in the 5th-8th playoff pool.

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