University of North Carolina Athletics
Dawson Helps U.S. To World Cup Berth
May 8, 2006 | Field Hockey
May 8, 2006
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - With Rachel Dawson, a rising senior at North Carolina, in the starting lineup for all seven games, the U.S. Field Hockey National Team finished fourth at the World Cup Qualifying Tournament in Rome to earn a spot in the 2006 World Cup field. Dawson was the only collegiate player on the team and was joined on the U.S. roster by Tar Heel alums Kate Barber, Kelsey Keeran, Carrie Lingo and Amy Tran.
The qualifying tournament began on April 25 and wrapped up Saturday. The World Cup is scheduled for Sept. 26 to Oct. 8 in Madrid.
The U.S. team, ranked 12th in the world, went into the 10-team qualifying tournament as the No. 6 seed. After opening with a draw against Ireland, the Americans came back to beat sixth-ranked New Zealand 1-0 on a goal by Lingo, then defeated host Italy 2-1. A 4-2 win over Azerbaijan, combined with a win by Korea over New Zealand, gave the U.S. a spot in the tournament semifinals and a World Cup berth. The U.S. finished the tournament with losses to Korea (3-0), England (1-0 on a penalty corner after time had expired at the end of overtime) and Japan (4-1).
Also qualifying for the World Cup were China, England, Japan and Korea. The five will join previously-qualified Argentina, Australia, Germany, The Netherlands, South Africa, India and host Spain in the World Cup field.
The U.S. will make its seventh consecutive appearance in field hockey's world championship event, which happens once every four years. The team's best-ever finish was a bronze medal in the 1994 tournament.
Barber, the team captain, and Lingo are the only players on the U.S. roster with previous World Cup experience. Both were members of the 2002 World Cup team and Barber also competed for the U.S. in 1998.
In addition to the five Tar Heels, the U.S. squad included Kayla Bashore (Indiana), Kelly Doton (Wake Forest), April Fronzoni (Michigan), Kristi Gannon (Michigan), Robyn Kenney (Boston Univ.), Claire Laubach (Wake Forest), Melissa Leonetti (Old Dominion), Angie Loy (Old Dominion), Lauren Powley (Maryland), Dina Rizzo (Maryland), Sara Silvetti (Maryland), Tiffany Snow (Old Dominion) and Barb Weinberg (Louisville).
