USA Field Hockey announced the team roster for the 2009 Women's Pan American Cup, to be held 7-15 February 2009 in Hamilton, Bermuda.
The Pan American Cup pits the region's top eight teams in competition for a spot in the 2010 World Cup. The USA will face Chile, Jamaica and Mexico in Pool B, while 2008 Olympic Games bronze medal winners Argentina are top seeds in Pool A. The winner will qualify for the 2010 World Cup to be held in Rosario, Argentina, 30 August to 12 September 2010.
The USA Field Hockey Women's Pan American Cup Team features a number of 2008 Olympians, as well as members of the Developmental Squad promoted to international competition. The roster ranges from veterans Carrie Lingo and Keli Smith, who recently celebrated their 150th and 100th cap respectively, to Heather Schnepf, who earned her first two caps in the test series with the Netherlands in January.
This is the third Pan American Cup tournament. Argentina defeated the USA in both of the previous finals in 2004 and 2001, and another Argentina-USA final is a distinct possibility.
The Pan American Cup is the first international tournament for the USA since the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. The USA recently completed a five game series against the Netherlands at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in preparation for the Pan Am Cup. The Dutch, gold medal champions at the 2008 Olympic Games, were a formidable opponent for a U.S. squad looking to identify the next generation of National Team members.
Team USA: Kayla Bashore, Lauren Crandall, Rachel Dawson, Sarah Dawson, Katie Evans, Jesse Gey, Claire Laubach, Carrie Lingo, Caroline Nichols, Lauren Powley, Katie Reinprecht, Dina Rizzo, Heather Schnepf, Sara Silvetti, Keli Smith, Tiffany Snow, Amy Tran, Barb Weinberg.
Source: USA Field Hockey
