USA Hockey and women's national team coach Lee Bodimeade have finalized the USA team for the Samsung World Cup with the addition of forward April Fronzoni (Larksville, Pa.) and defender Melissa Leonetti (Erdenheim, Pa.) to the 18-player roster.
With their selections to the team, Fronzoni and Leonetti will both make their first-ever World Cup appearances. Both players competed in May's World Cup Qualifying Tournament where the USA earned a fourth place finish to gain a spot in the final 12-team World Cup field. The two were added to the U.S. roster after the initial 16 players were named to the team on 28 August.
A three-year member of the USA National Team, Fronzoni provides the USA with additional speed and quickness at the forward position as well as another goal-scoring threat. Fronzoni has collected 9 goals in 38 international appearances.
In her fourth year as a member of the national team, Leonetti solidifies a USA defense that continues to gain international respect. Leonetti has appeared in 38 international contests for the USA and scored her first career goal against Australia at the March on Madrid Four Nation Tournament in August.
Fronzoni and Leonetti join Kate Barber (West Chester, Pa.), Kayla Bashore (Shoemakersville, Pa.), Lauren Crandall (Doyelstown, Pa.), Rachel Dawson (Berlin, N.J.), Sarah Dawson (Berlin, N.J.), Kelly Doton (Greenfield, Mass.), Katelyn Falgowski (Landerberg, Pa.), Carrie Lingo (Rehoboth Beach, Del.), Angie Loy (Loysville, Pa.), Lauren Powley (Mountaintop, Pa.), Dina Rizzo (Walpole, Mass.), Sara Silvetti (Wapwallopen, Pa.), Keli Smith (Selinsgrove, Pa.), Tiffany Snow (Escondido, Calif.) and goalkeepers Amy Tran (Grantville, Pa.) and Barbara Weinberg (Louisville, Ky,) on the USA World Cup team.
The USA will meet world No. 2 Argentina in the team's World Cup opener on 27 September and will play world No. 4 Australia in the second game one day later. The USA earned its first victory over Argentina in 16 years with a 2-1 win during the AstroTurf March on Madrid in August and earned a 1-1 draw with Australia during the first round of the event.
