University of North Carolina Athletics
Tar Heels Earn Six Of 16 Spots On Olympic Roster
June 23, 2008 | Field Hockey
June 23, 2008
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - Six North Carolina field hockey players have been selected for the U.S. Olympic team to compete at this summer's Beijing Games. Tar Heel program alums Kate Barber, Rachel Dawson, Jesse Gey, Carrie Lingo and Amy Tran and rising sophomore Katelyn Falgowski are among the 16 who earned spots on the roster.
"It's a thrill for me as a coach to have six of our players earn spots on the Olympic team," said UNC coach Karen Shelton, a member of U.S. Olympic field hockey teams in 1980 and 1984. "They're all great representatives of our program and I'm so proud of what they've accomplished.
"Competing at the Olympics is a life-changing experience and a great privilege. They'll be Olympians for life."
The team was selected following last week's USA Field Hockey Women's National Championship in Virginia Beach. The nominations, announced Monday evening, are subject to approval by the USOC.
Dawson, Falgowski and Gey were members of Carolina's 2007 NCAA Championship squad, which finished the season 24-0. Dawson, the Honda Award winner as the national player of the year, graduated with distinction in December. Gey will return to UNC this fall to finish her degree after taking the spring away from school to train with the National Team.
Falgowski is the youngest member of the U.S. team and the only one with college eligibility remaining. She earned Atlantic Coast Conference Freshman of the Year honors last season while leading the nation in assists.
arber, Lingo and Tran are longtime National Team veterans. Barber, a member of national championship teams in 1995, '96 and '97 at UNC, has been honored as the USA Field Hockey Female Athlete of the Year a record five times and serves as the team captain. Lingo, who played for the Tar Heels from 1999-2001, is the team's vice-captain and a squad member for the last eight years. Tran, who competed for the Tar Heels from 1999-2002, is the team's starting goalkeeper and considered among the world's best at her position. Barber, Lingo and Tran all earned first-team All-America honors at UNC, as did Dawson and Gey.
All six players were on the U.S. squad that won an Olympic Qualifier in Russia in April to earn the first berth in the Summer Games since 1996.
Prior to Beijing, the U.S. team will participate in a four-nation tournament July 4-6 in Bremen, Germany. They complete their tour with a three game series against the Netherlands, ranked number one in the world, on July 9-12.
The U.S. opens Olympic Games competition on Aug. 10 against 2007 Pan American champion Argentina. The United States is slotted in Pool B with Argentina, Germany, Great Britain, Japan and New Zealand.
2008 U.S. Olympic Team: Kate Barber (Midfielder, North Carolina, West Chester, Pa.); Kayla Bashore (Midfielder, Indiana, Shoemakersville, Pa.); Lauren Crandall (Defender, Wake Forest, Doylestown, Pa.); Rachel Dawson (Defender, North Carolina , Berlin, N.J.); Kelly Doton (Defender, Wake Forest , Greenfield, Mass.); Katelyn Falgowski (Defender, North Carolina, Landenburg, Pa.); Jesse Gey (Striker, North Carolina, Green Lane, Pa.); Carrie Lingo (Midfielder, North Carolina, Rehoboth Beach, Del.); Angie Loy (Striker, Old Dominion, Loysville, Pa.); Caroline Nichols (Defender, Old Dominion, Virginia Beach, Va.); Lauren Powley (Midfielder, Maryland, Mountaintop, Pa.); Dina Rizzo Striker, Maryland, Walpole, Mass.); Dana Sensenig (Midfielder, Old Dominion, Denver, Pa.); Keli Smith (Striker, Maryland, Selinsgrove, Pa.); Tiffany Snow (Striker, Old Dominion, Escondido, Calif.); Amy Tran (Goalkeeper, North Carolina, Grantville, Pa.)
Alternates: Barb Weinberg (goalkeeper) and Sara Silvetti (defender)
