USA Seek to Secure Spot in Pan Am Games with Series versus Mexico

The USA men's national team will look to secure the final spot in this summer's Pan American Games tournament in a best-of-three qualifying series against Mexico this week in Devonshire, Bermuda.

The two teams will meet in matches on 8, 10 and 11 March at the Bermuda National Sports Centre with the winner joining Argentina, Canada, Chile, Cuba, Netherlands Antilles, Trinidad & Tobago and host Brazil at the Pan American Games, July 15-25 in Rio de Janeiro. The Pan American Games serve as the continental qualifier for the Olympic Games with the winner of the competition earning the continents automatic berth in Beijing in 2008.

USA coach Nick Conway's roster for the event includes a wide range of experience from 1996 Olympian Steve Danielson (San Diego, Calif.) with 80 international caps to newcomers Remco Couwenbergh (Northridge, Calif.) and Andy Sheridan (New York, N.Y.) who will be looking to make their first international appearances.

In addition to Danielson, the U.S. roster includes Pan American Games veterans Rhinku Bhamber (Simi Valley, Calif.), Pat Cota (Camarillo, Calif.) and Shawn Nakamura (Camarillo, Calif.) from the 1999 and 2003 Pan Am Games as well as Jarred Martin (Saratoga Springs, N.Y.), Ian Scally (Thousand Oaks, Calif.) and goalkeepers Jason Wellings (Thousand Oaks, Calif.) and Jeb Saez (Thousand Oaks, Calif.). Brian Schledorn (Thousand Oaks, Calif.) was a member of the 1999 Pan Am team while veteran Binh Hoang (Westlake Village, Calif.) was a member of the 2001 USA World Cup Qualifying Tournament team.

The series will serve as the debut international event for Couwenbergh and Sheridan as well as a crucial international test for the next wave of promising U.S. players including Nate Coolidge (Sandwich, Mass.), Jonathon Ginolfi (Moorpark, Calif.), Mick Harner (Hanover, Pa.) and Sean Harris (Moorpark, Calif.).

A favorable outcome in Bermuda would not only send the USA to the Pan Am Games, but would also keep alive the team's Olympic qualifying hopes. Teams placing 2nd-5th at the Pan Am Games will earn spots in one of three six-team Olympic Qualifying Tournaments in 2008. The winners of each of the qualifying tournament will advance to the Olympic Games.

The USA has appeared in every Pan American Games field hockey tournament since the sport was added to the in 1967. The USA placed 5th at the last Pan Am tournament in 2003 and last won a medal (bronze) at the 1995 Pan American Games in Mar de Plata, Argentina.

Source: USA Field Hockey