University of North Carolina Athletics
Two Prep All-Americans Join Carolina Field Hockey
June 21, 1999 | Field Hockey
April 9, 1999
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - Meredith Keller and Ali Stewart, two standout players from Wilmington, Del., have signed letters of intent to join the North Carolina field hockey team next fall. "This is a relatively small class for us, but in this case we think less is more," Carolina coach Karen Shelton said. "We expect both Meredith and Ali to be great additions to the Tar Heel program."
In joining the Tar Heels, the 5-4 Keller is carrying on a family tradition. One sister, Pembry Keller, is a junior on the field hockey team and another sister, Abbi Keller, played for the Tar Heels from 1994-97. Meredith has played on the U.S. Under-19 and Under-20 teams and was a member of the Under-21 World Cup team in 1997. She earned high school All-America honors in 1997 and '98 and was named All-State four times during her career at the Tower Hill School. Keller is also a two-time All-State player in lacrosse and twice earned second-team All-State honors in basketball.
"I'm happy that we've got the third and final Keller sister on the way and we look forward to great contributions from her at midfield and back," Shelton said.
Stewart, 5-7, earned 12 varsity letters while playing field hockey, basketball and soccer at Mount Pleasant High School and was named Delaware's Female Athlete of the Year in 1998. She earned All-America honors in field hockey in 1998 and is a member of the 1999 U.S. Under-20 team. Stewart also played on the Under-16 team. She has earned All-State, All-Region and All-Conference honors in field hockey, second-team All-Conference honors in soccer and third-team All-Conference honors in basketball.
"Ali is a strong defender with good size and speed," Shelton said. "She'll bring to us great enthusiasm and a rich Carolina tradition in that she is the niece of Frank Comfort, the Carolina swimming coach. Ali has been a Tar Heel all her life."
The Tar Heels, winners of the 1989, '95, '96 and '97 NCAA Championships, finished the 1998 season 13-8. They lost three senior starters from that team - forwards Nancy Pelligreen and Moira McFadden, and midfielder Stacey Schweighart.
