University of North Carolina Athletics
Tar Heels Help U.S. To Olympic Berth
April 28, 2008 | Field Hockey
April 28, 2008
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - The USA Field Hockey Women's National Team beat Belgium 3-1 Sunday in the final game of the Olympic Qualifier in Kazan, Russia, to earn a spot in the 2008 Summer Games in Beijing. Six North Carolina players were on the squad, which claimed the U.S. program's first berth since 1996, when the team participated as the host nation. The last time the U.S. qualified for a spot was 1988 in Seoul.
Current and former Tar Heels competing for the U.S. were Kate Barber, Rachel Dawson, Katelyn Falgowski, Jesse Gey, Carrie Lingo and Amy Tran. Dawson, Falgowski and Gey were members of Carolina's 2007 NCAA Championship squad, Dawson and Gey as seniors and Falgowski as a freshman.
"I'm so proud of the U.S. team on this historic accomplishment," said UNC coach Karen Shelton, who was a member of U.S. Olympic teams in 1980 and 1984. "Any former international player has to be thrilled with the team's success.
"The players representing UNC were pivotal contributors to the U.S. team and I couldn't be any prouder. They have put in so much hard work and sacrifice to get to this point."
The U.S. squad didn't trail in the tournament, although Belgium tied the score at 1-1 early in Sunday's game. That was just the fourth goal that the U.S. team and Tran, the starting goalkeeper, had allowed in the tournament's six games. Barber, the team captain, had the final goal of the game, her team's 27th of the tournament.
arber and Lingo scored three goals each for the U.S., while Gey had two goals and Dawson 1.
Dawson, the 2007 National Player of the Year, was named the Player of the Tournament. Tiffany Snow, a former Old Dominion player, was named the Top Scorer of the Tournament. Best Goalkeeper went to Belgium's Elizabeth Achten and Most Promising Young Player was India's Rani Devi, who is 14.
The U.S. is one of 12 teams that will make up the Olympic field, joining Argentina, Australia, China, Germany, Great Britain, Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand, South Africa and Spain. One more team will earn a spot at the final Olympic Qualifier, which ends May 4 and is being played in Canada.
The squad is expected back in the U.S. on Monday evening.
For complete results, photos and video highlights, check out the USA Field Hockey website, usfieldhockey.com.
