University of North Carolina Athletics
U.S. Field Hockey Team Will Not Compete In France
September 16, 2001 | Field Hockey
Sept. 16, 2001
Two UNC field hockey players, senior midfielder Carrie Lingo and junior goalkeeper Amy Tran, were to have departed this weekend to represent the U.S. as part of the Women's National Team at the World Cup Qualifying Tournament, scheduled for Sept. 17-30 in Amiens/Abbeville, France. Instead, Lingo and Tran will remain in Chapel Hill after Sunday's announcement by the U.S. Field Hockey Association that the team will not compete in the tournament.
The U.S. team will, however, have the opportunity to qualify for the 2002 World Cup through a provision by the International Hockey Federation (FIH). Facing what the FIH termed an "impossible situation," the U.S. will now be allowed to qualify for the World Cup in a best-of-three match series against the Qualifier's seventh place team. Originally, the top seven teams at the Qualifier were to earn a berth in the World Cup, scheduled for Nov. 26-Dec. 8, 2002, in Perth, Australia.
"Our hearts are still heavy over the events of this last week," said U.S. Field Hockey President, Sharon Taylor. "I am very proud of the brave young women on our team who were willing to participate under these most extreme circumstances. Obviously, this is not the way we want to qualify. Every player would have liked to settle it on the field. But given the circumstances with our inability to get to the event and the rules of the tournament, we have no alternative. The FIH has been very sensitive to our plight, and this allows us to protect our players, yet gives us the opportunity to qualify."
The closing of U.S. airports and subsequent cancellation of many international flights, grounded the U.S. team, and postponed its conditional arrival in France until midway through the first week of the tournament. According to FIH rules, a forfeit of a single match at the tournament would call for forfeiture of all tournament matches. Canada and Uruguay, the other two teams representing the Americas at the tournament, had arrived in Europe before Tuesday's tragic events.
"Despite every effort being made on the part of the U.S. Field Hockey Association, it is now clear that it is impossible for their team to compete in France," said FIH Hon. Secretary General Peter Cohen. "Because of the extraordinary circumstances about this situation, the FIH believes that in the overall interests of hockey, it is only fair and just that the USA not be deprived of an opportunity to qualify for the World Cup despite their inability to compete in this tournament."
The FIH plan calls for the U.S. team to compete in a best-of-three game series against the seventh place finisher at the Qualifying Tournament. The team placing 7th at the Qualifier will have the opportunity to propose the location of the series with the approval of the FIH. The series will be played in early 2002 and preferably before Feb. 28.
The U.S. had entered the Qualifying Tournament as the number two seed and was scheduled to compete in Pool B with Belgium, Canada, Japan, Lithuania, Malaysia, Russia and Scotland. The tournament's top seed, England is joined in Pool A with host France, India, Ireland, Kazakstan, Ukraine and Uruguay. Kenya dropped out of the tournament early last week for financial reasons.
Also on the U.S. team were Tar Heel alums Kate Barber, Peggy Storrar and Kristen McCann.
Carolina was scheduled to face Old Dominion on Sept. 15 and Virginia on Sept. 16, but both games were postponed. It has not yet been decided whether they will be rescheduled.
Originally set to depart for France last Wednesday, Lingo and Tran were to have missed seven UNC games while competing for the U.S.
The top-ranked Tar Heels (5-0) return to action on Saturday, Sept. 22, at home against Kent State. Game time is 1:30 p.m. On Sept. 23, Carolina hosts James Madison at 1 p.m.
2001 World Cup Qualifying Tournament roster: Kate Barber (West Chester, Pa.), Tracey Fuchs (Ann Arbor, Mich.), Katie Kauffman (West Lawn, Pa.), Jill Reeve (Hoosick Falls, N.Y.), Peggy Storrar (Mahopac, N.Y.), Natalie Dawson (Berlin, N.J.), Kelli Gannon (Escondido, Calif.), Tara Jelley (Greenfield, Mass.), Tracey Larson (Morrisville, Pa.), Carrie Lingo (Rehoboth Beach, Del.), Kristen McCann (Allentown, Pa.), Melanie Meerschwam (Amstelveen, The Netherlands), Kim Miller (Virginia Beach, Va.), Mimi Smith (Virginia Beach, Va.), Carla Tagliente (Cortland, N.Y.) and Amy Tran (Grantville, Pa.).
