Women’s National Team Roster Announced

USA Field Hockey today announced the twenty-four member roster for the 2009-2010 Women's National Team and the sixteen members of the 2009-2010 Women's Developmental Team.

The 2009-2010 USA Field Hockey Women's National Team features a number of 2008 Olympians, as well as former members of the Developmental Squad promoted to international competition.

"I'm very happy with the team we've selected," said Head Coach Lee Bodimeade. "We are looking at qualifying for the 2010 World Cup and towards the 2012 Olympic Games."

New additions to the senior roster include: Caroline Blaum, Katie Evans, Maren Ford, Lauren Pfeiffer and Katie Reinprecht. All but Ford joined the Women's National Team for a test series against Argentina in April, which featured Pfeiffer's first international appearance. Ford, who earned a silver medal at the 2008 Indoor Pan Am Cup as a member of the Women's Indoor National Team, played hockey professionally in Argentina last year.

 

2009-2010 USA Women's National Team Roster:

NAME	POSITION	SCHOOL	HOMETOWN
Kayla Bashore*	Midfielder	Indiana	Shoemakersville, PA
Caroline Blaum	Striker	Iowa	Wilkes-Barre, PA
Lauren Crandall*	Defender	Wake Forest	Doylestown, PA
Rachel Dawson*	Defender	North Carolina	Berlin, NJ
Sarah Dawson	Striker	Iowa	Berlin, NJ
Kelly Doton*	Defender	Wake Forest	Greenfield, MA
Katie Evans	Striker	Delaware	Newtown Square, PA
Katelyn Falgowski*	Striker	North Carolina	Landenburg, PA
Maren Ford	Midfielder	Princeton	Lewes, DE
Jesse Gey*	Striker	North Carolina	Green Lane, PA
Tiffany Huisman*	Striker	Old Dominion	Escondido, CA
Claire Laubach	Midfielder	Wake Forest	Bristow, VA
Michelle Kasold	Midfielder	Wake Forest	Chapel Hill, NC
Melissa Leonetti	Defender	Old Dominion	Erdenheim, PA
Carrie Lingo*	Midfielder	North Carolina	Rehoboth Beach, DE
Caroline Nichols*	Midfielder	Old Dominion	Virginia Beach, VA
Katie O'Donnell	Striker	Maryland	Blue Bell, PA
Lauren Pfeiffer	Midfielder	Iowa	Mt. Laurel, NJ
Lauren Powley*	Midfielder	Maryland	Mountaintop, PA
Katie Reinprecht	Midfielder	Princeton	North Wales, PA
Sara Silvetti	Defender	Maryland	Wapwallopen, PA
Keli Smith*	Striker	Maryland	Selinsgrove, PA
Amy Tran*	Goalkeeper	North Carolina	Grantville, PA
Barb Weinberg	Goalkeeper	Iowa	Louisville, KY

 

The selections were announced at the conclusion of the 2009 Women's National Championship in Virginia Beach, VA. The competition is a round-robin tournament featuring the top athletes from USA Field Hockey's six regional High Performance Centers. Beginning in the early spring, High Performance Centers serving seven regions conduct open trials for college-age and older athletes. Once selected to a Center, athletes receive elite-level training from some of the nation's top coaches over the course of the spring. At the conclusion of the program, each Center selects a team to represent its region at the National Championships. Athletes competing in the tournament have the opportunity for selection to the U.S. National Squad.

Bodimeade has been a steady increase in the level of talent at the Women's National Championship.

"Overall, the skill level was lifted significantly from previous years," said Bodimeade. "What the athletes bring to the group overall is a greater skill level, a greater competency in executing basic skills at a higher speed under great pressure. We're getting the benefit of that now."

The first international competition for the Women's National Team is a visit from 2008 Olympic bronze medalists Argentina. Las Leonas will visit the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, CA for a five game test series in November.

"That will be the first real test for the group," said Bodimeade. "In September we learn where our World Cup qualifier will be held early next year. That will be critical to our success as we go forward."

Members of the 2009-2010 Women's Developmental Team were also announced:

Melanie Brill	North Carolina	Oley, PA
Maureen Daniel	American	Clifton Park, NY
Brianna Davies	Maryland	Annville, PA
Kelly Dostal	Wake Forest	Monterey, CA
Camille Ghandi	Stanford	London, England
Melissa Gonzalez	Connecticut	Mohegan Lake, NY
Jaclyn Kintzer	North Carolina	Chapel Hill, NC
Mia Link	Virginia	Jenkintown, PA
Marta Malmberg	Marathon HS	Marathon, NY
Julia Reinprecht	Princeton	North Wales, PA
Allison Scola	Penn State	Harrisburg, PA
Paige Selenski	Virginia	Shavertown, PA
Pamela Speuhler	Boston	Sudbury, MA
Shannon Taylor	Syracuse	Midlothian, PA
Meghan Wheeler	Connecticut	Canton, MA
Alesha Widdall	Massachusetts	Whitney Point, NY