University of North Carolina Athletics
Tar Heel Trio Representing The U.S.
October 6, 2008 | Field Hockey
Oct. 6, 2008
- Results from Mexico City
- Event site: www.panamhockey.org
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - As the North Carolina field hockey team prepares for a trip to Boston this weekend, three Tar Heels are playing on a bigger stage. Sophomores Elizabeth Drazdowski and Jackie Kintzer and junior Riley Foster are at the Pan American Junior Championships in Mexico City, competing as part of the 18-player U.S. team.
The trio departed several hours after UNC's win over Wake Forest last Saturday. Play begins Monday, as the U.S. takes on Bermuda at 12 p.m. ET (11 a.m. in Mexico City). The U.S. will play Trinidad & Tobago on Tuesday and Chile on Thursday before playoff action begins on Friday. The gold medal game is scheduled for Sunday.
The U.S. has brought home the silver in the last two events, in 2000 and 2005.
Losing players to international competition mid-season is nothing new for UNC coach Karen Shelton, and she sees it as a net gain for the players who go and the team they leave behind.
"When we lose players to junior teams or national teams, someone else has to step up into their spot, and those players gain valuable experience," Shelton says. "The team relies on them so they feel a sense of responsibility and opportunity, and it makes them stronger and more confident.
"In the meantime, the ones that are away are gaining those same experiences and opportunities at the next level, so they come back better. It only helps to strengthen our team, improve our depth and provide these young women with a world experience that they might not otherwise have."
Drazdowski, a midfielder from Mountain Top, Pa., and Foster, a back from Fort Worth, Texas, have started all 11 games for UNC this season. Kintzer, a goalkeeper from Robesonia, Pa., shares time at her position with junior Brianna O'Donnell.
In addition to being away from their team, the players will miss a week of school during a time when many professors are giving midterms. "I've tried not to get behind all semester because I knew this was coming up," said Drazdowski, a communication studies major and member of the Dean's List. "Missing school definitely stresses me out and I'm going to miss my teammates, but I really want to take advantage of this opportunity to play a high level of hockey, play internationally for the first time, learn as much as I can and come back a more experienced field hockey player."
While Foster traveled with the Under-21 team to Argentina last March, the Junior Pan Am Games will be the first international competition as a part of the squad for Drazdowski and Kintzer.
"I'm pretty excited," Kintzer said. "I'm one of the older girls on the team and I just want to step in there and lead the best that I can. With everything that I've learned, I feel pretty well prepared to just go in and play."
The three will return on Oct. 13, the day after the competition ends. UNC's Fall Break begins Oct. 15 and the Tar Heels will host Virginia Oct. 18 and James Madison Oct. 19.
While Drazdowski, Foster and Kintzer are gone, Carolina will take on Atlantic Coast Conference opponent Boston College Friday in Newton, Mass., then stay at B.C. for a neutral-site game with Yale on Sunday. Fourth-ranked UNC is 9-2 on the season and 2-0 in ACC play.
"Obviously I'll really miss playing with the girls on my team," Foster said, "but this is a great opportunity and I know that they're really excited for us."
Check TarHeelBlue.com for updates on the Junior Pan Am Games competition. And click here to read about Drazdowski, Foster and Kintzer in the Daily Tar Heel.
