US Field Hockey Women at Milton Keynes

United States Field Hockey Association
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U.S. Field Hockey Women To Test Turf at Milton Keynes

COLORADO SPRINGS -- The U.S. Women's National Field Hockey Team will get a chance to test the turf at the site of next year’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament when the team travels to Milton Keynes, England, to face Great Britain in a series of games at the National Hockey Stadium.

The teams will meet in a three-game series of matches scheduled for Nov. 24, 25
and 29.

"It is an opportunity to test out the pitch before March 2000 (for the Olympic Qualifying Tournament) and a chance to compete against a good Great Britain team," said U.S. coach Tracey Belbin. "We also have the levity of being able to see some new members of the US squad play at the next level."

Some of the "new" members of Belbin's team include former University of Iowa All-American goalkeeper Lisa Celluci (Bromall, Pa.), current Duke University All-American Courtney Sommer (Tulsa, Okla.) and current Penn State All-American Tracey Larson (Morrisville, Pa.). The trio was selected to the National Team last May, but will be making their first international tour appearances with the team.

The remainder of the 16-member team includes Pan American Team members Kate Barber (West Chester, Pa.), Chris DeBow (West Chester, Pa.), Tracey Fuchs (Ann Arbor, Mich.) , Kelli James (Medford, NJ.), Katie Kauffman (West Lawn, Pa.), Antoinette Lucas (Richmond, Va.), Jill Reeve (Hoosick Falls, NY), Carla Tagliente (Cortland, NY), Jana Toepel (Perkiomenville, Pa.), Michelle Vizzuso (Fairfield, NJ), Cindy Werley (Allentown, Pa.), goalkeeper Jana Withrow (Hockessin, Del.) and Sydney International Hockey Challenge team member Nancy Pelligreen (St. Louis, Mo.)

The U.S. captured the silver medal at the Pan American Games and earned an additional silver medal at the Sydney International Hockey Challenge in Australia. The Sydney tourney served as the Olympic test event for the field hockey venue at Homebush Bay, and saw the U.S. play to a 1-1 draw with defending Olympic and World champion Australia.

The U.S. will return to Milton Keynes, March 23-April 2, 2000 for the Olympic Qualifying Tournament. The top five teams at the 10 team tourney will qualify for the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney. The tournament marks the last chance for teams to qualify for the Sydney Games.

The U.S. will be joined at next year’s Qualifying Tournament by host Great Britain, China, Germany, India, Ireland, Japan, New Zealand, Russia and Spain. The 10-team field for the Olympic Games already includes host Australia, All-Africa Games champion South Africa, Asian Games champion Korea, European Nation's Cup champion the Netherlands and Pan American Games champion Argentina.

Women's National Team Great Britain Roster

No	Name	Pos	Hometown	Birth Date	Caps
1	Michelle Vizzuso	Fwd	Fairfield, NJ	13 April 77	35
6	Chris DeBow	Def	West Chester, Pa.	19 Oct 76	48
8	Kelli James	Mid	Medford, NJ	16 March 70	135
9	Tracey Fuchs	Mid	Ann Arbor, Mich.	3 Nov 66	178
10	Antionette Lucas	Def	Richmond, Va.	27 Oct 68	134
11	Katie Kauffman	Def	West Lawn, Pa.	26 Sept 74	72
14	Carla Tagliente	Fwd	Cortland, N.Y.	2 Jan 79	30
15	Jill Reeve	Def	Hoosick Falls, NY	1 Nov 69	82
17	Tracey Larson	Mid	Morrisville, Pa.	1 May 78	0
18	Jana Toepel	Def	Perkiomenville, Pa.	7 July 78	15
22	Kate Barber	Fwd	West Chester, Pa.	22 Nov 76	38
25	Jana Withrow	GK	Hockessin, Del.	6 Aug 75	28
26	Nancy Pelligreen	Fwd	St. Louis, Mo.	14 June 77	6
27	Cindy Werley	Fwd	Allentown, Pa.	26 Feb 75	43
--	Lisa Celluci	GK	Broomall, Pa.	15 March 76	0
--	Courtney Sommer	Def/Mid	Tulsa, Okla.	24 Jan 79	0
	Head Coach
	Tracey Belbin
	Assistant
	Nick Conway
	Staff
	Mary Braindard, Umpire; Cheryl Flanders, Trainer; Lockett Stewart III, Sports Psychologist; Kate Roberts, Manager

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