University of North Carolina Athletics
Tar Heels Named To National Squads
July 1, 2009 | Field Hockey
July 1, 2009
Five North Carolina players have been named to the U.S. National Team for field hockey, announced recently by USA Field Hockey. Rachel Dawson, Katelyn Falgowski, Jesse Gey, Carrie Lingo and Amy Tran, all veteran members of the team, were selected for the 24-member 2009-10 squad.
All five represented the U.S. at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. Falgowski will be a junior at UNC this fall, while the other four are Carolina graduates.
Additionally, two Tar Heels - Melanie Brill and Jackie Kintzer - were named to the 16-member Developmental Team for 2009-10. Brill is a senior from Oley, Pa., and Kintzer is a junior from Robesonia, Pa.
"I couldn't be prouder of the Tar Heels selected for various squads at the 2009 National Tournament," UNC coach Karen Shelton said. "Our young players have committed themselves to the training required to succeed at the next level. When hard work pays off, it is motivation to keep working and inspiration for others to try harder.
"Of course, the national team players - Jesse Gey, Rachel Dawson, Amy Tran, Katelyn Falgowski and team captain Carrie Lingo - continue to do us proud. These are amazing young women who have a passion for field hockey, and they represent UNC and their country with class and distinction."
The first international competition for the Women's National Team is a series against 2008 Olympic bronze medalist Argentina in November. The five-game test series will take place at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, Calif.
The selections were announced following the 2009 Women's National Championship in Virginia Beach, Va., June 20-27. The competition is a round-robin tournament featuring the top athletes from USA Field Hockey's six regional High Performance Centers. The New Jersey High Performance Center went undefeated in the event, beating the South team 4-1 in the championship game. Tar Heel alum Rachel Dawson helped New Jersey to the title, earning Player of the Tournament honors.
The South team, with UNC assistant Grant Fulton as its head coach, finished as the runner-up after coming in last in 2008. The squad included nine current Carolina players on its roster of 18 - Melanie Brill, Meghan Dawson, Elizabeth Drazdowski, Katelyn Falgowski, Jesse Gey, Jackie Kintzer, Jen Slocum, Elizabeth Stephens and Caitlin Van Sickle.
2009-10 USA Field Hockey National Team
Kayla Bashore (Midfielder, Indiana, Shoemakersville, Pa.)
Caroline Blaum (Striker, Iowa, Wilkes-Barre, Pa.)
Lauren Crandall (Defender, Wake Forest, Doylestown, Pa.)
Rachel Dawson (Defender, North Carolina, Berlin, N.J.)
Sarah Dawson (Striker, Iowa, Berlin, N.J.)
Kelly Doton Defender, Wake Forest, Greenfield, Mass.)
Katie Evans (Striker, Delaware, Newtown Square, Pa.)
Katelyn Falgowski (Striker, North Carolina, Landenburg, Pa.)
Maren Ford (Midfielder, Princeton, Lewes, Del.)
Jesse Gey (Striker, North Carolina, Green Lane, Pa.)
Tiffany Huisman (Striker, Old Dominion, Escondido, Calif.)
Claire Laubach (Midfielder, Wake Forest, Bristow, Va.)
Michelle Kasold (Midfielder, Wake Forest, Chapel Hill, N.C.)
Melissa Leonetti (Defender, Old Dominion, Erdenheim, Pa.)
Carrie Lingo (Midfielder, North Carolina, Rehoboth Beach, Del.)
Caroline Nichols (Midfielder, Old Dominion, Virginia Beach, Va.)
Katie O'Donnell (Striker, Maryland, Blue Bell, Pa.)
Lauren Pfeiffer (Midfielder, Iowa, Mt. Laurel, N.J.)
Lauren Powley (Midfielder, Maryland, Mountaintop, Pa.)
Katie Reinprecht (Midfielder, Princeton, North Wales, PA
Sara Silvetti (Defender, Maryland, Wapwallopen, Pa.)
Keli Smith (Striker, Maryland, Selinsgrove, Pa.)
Amy Tran (Goalkeeper, North Carolina, Grantville, Pa.)
Barb Weinberg (Goalkeeper, Iowa, Louisville, Ky.)
2009-10 USA Field Hockey Developmental Team
Melanie Brill (North Carolina
Maureen Daniel (American)
Brianna Davies (Maryland)
Kelly Dostal (Wake Forest)
Camille Ghandi (Stanford)
Melissa Gonzalez (Connecticut)
Jackie Kintzer (North Carolina)
Mia Link (Virginia)
Marta Malmberg (Marathon N.Y. HS)
Julia Reinprecht (Princeton)
Allison Scola (Penn State)
Paige Selenski (Virginia)
Pamela Speuhler (Boston Univ.)
Shannon Taylor (Syracuse)
Meghan Wheeler (Connecticut)
Alesha Widdall (Massachusetts)
