COLORADO SPRINGS, CO. - The USA Women's National Team will host Japan at the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, California, April 23-27.
Following the 9.0-magnitude earthquake that struck Japan in early March, USA Field Hockey began raising funds for the Japan Disaster Relief through the American Red Cross. On Saturday, April 23, USA Field Hockey will present the Japan National Team with a relief fund check in the amount that was donated, prior to the start of the match. Currently, over $10,000 has been raised.
ÔÇ£Because the field hockey community is so strong in the USA, we knew we could count on what we call the field hockey family to contribute,'' said Kate Reisinger, National Teams Director. ÔÇ£While it's going to be a small amount in the big scheme of things, we hope that our gesture can provide some sort of relief to them.''
Donations can still be made to the relief fund and are tax-deductible.
Matches will be played on April 23, 24, 26, 27, and 29. All matches will be played at 2pm PST. Admittance is free and spectators attending the event will be able to donate to the Japan relief effort on site. The Olympic Training Center is located at 2800 Olympic Parkway, Chula Vista, CA.
This series is part of the Women's National Team training leading up to the Pan American Games. While Japan is not a Pan Am rival, they are ranked amongst the top ten in the world and will be quality competition for the USA as they continue to prepare for the Games being held in Guadalajara, Mexico in October. The gold medalist at the Pan American Games will automatically qualify for the 2012 London Olympics.
USA Roster: Caroline Nichols (Virginia Beach, VA), Carrie Lingo (Rehoboth Beach, DE), Claire Laubach (Bristow, VA), Jackie Kintzer (Chapel Hill, NC), Katelyn Smither (Suffolk, PA), Katie O'Donnell (Blue Bell, PA), Kayla Bashore-Smedley (Shoemakersville, PA), Kelly Driscoll (West Chester, PA), Lauren Crandall (Pittsburgh, Pa), Lauren Pfeiffer (Iowa City, IA), Maren Ford (Ann Arbor, MI), Melanie Brill (San Diego, CA), Michelle Kasold (Chapel Hill, NC), Pam Spuehler (Sudbury, MA), Rachel Dawson (Camden, NJ), Shannon Taylor (San Diego, CA), Torrie Albini (Escondido, CA), Melissa Gonzalez (Cortland, NY), Michelle Vittese (Charlottesville, VA), Brianna Davies (Annville, PA), Paige Selenski (Charlottesville, Va)
Japan Roster: Rika Komazawa, Miyuki Nakagawa, Ai Murakami, Keiko Manabe, Chie Akutsu, Sakiyo Asano, Shiho Sakai, Yukari Yamamoto, Izuki Tanaka, Nagisa Hayashi, Sachimi Iwoa, Akiko Ota, Misato Katamine, Kana Nomura, Masako Sato, Aki Mitsuhasi, Shiho Otsuka, Nane Ozawa, Akane Shibata
About USA Field Hockey: USA Field Hockey is the national governing body for sport of field hockey in the United States and is based out of Colorado Springs, Colorado. For media inquiries, please contact Ashley Meunier, USA Field Hockey Communications Manager, at ameunier@usafieldhockey.com, or at (719) 866-4365. Additional information regarding USA Field Hockey can be found online by visiting www.usafieldhockey.com.
