USFHA: USA Field Hockey's newly-selected women's World Cup training squad will continue its preparations for the sport's world championship event with a full schedule of events and competitions leading up to Madrid.

Selected at the USA Field Hockey Women's National Championships from 29 June- 4 July in Virginia Beach, the World Cup training squad features 22 athletes with an additional nine players selected to the U.S. developmental squad.

The two squads will combine for a series of intra-squad matches featuring US-A against US-B, from 18-22 July at the USA Field Hockey National Training Center in Virginia Beach. A pool of 24 players will then be selected from which coach Lee Bodimeade will name the final 18 members of the World Cup team.

The 24-member World Cup squad is scheduled to be announced on July 24 with the final 18-member World Cup team to be announced August 28.

The two selected squads feature a combination of veteran stars and promising young players. U.S. captain Kate Barber (will be looking to earn a spot on her third USA World Cup team after previously competing at the International Hockey Federation's premier event in 1998 and 2002. Barber has appeared in 156 international matches in her career while scoring 41 goals.

Also looking to return to the World Cup, World Cup Qualifier standout Carrie Lingo started all nine matches for the USA at the 2002 World Cup while Keli Smith returns to the squad after taking a year off from international competition.

mith's game-winning goal in extra time against New Zealand at the 2002 World Cup gave the USA a 1-0 win to send the team into the 9th/10th place game.

Another member of the 2002 World Cup team, goalkeeper Jill Dedman returns to the developmental squad after previously playing on the U.S. national team from 2001-03. Dedman had been a member of the U.S. Indoor team and serves as assistant coach at the University at Albany.

The new squad features 17 members of the World Cup Qualifier team that earned the USA a spot in the World Cup with a fourth place finish in Rome. The 18th member of the Qualifier team, Robyn Kenney retired following the tournament and concluded her career with 37 international match appearances.

Following the intra-squad matches, the USA will continue its preparations for the World Cup with the AstroTurf March on Madrid Four Nation Tournament, 17-27 August in College Park, Md. and Virginia Beach, Va. The tournament features the USA taking on the world's top-ranked teams including No. 1 The Netherlands, No. 2 Argentina and No. 3 Australia in a double round-robin format.

Tickets for the AstroTurf March on Madrid are available at the gate on each day of the tournament. Admission is free for USA Field Hockey members with proof of membership and $5 for adults and $3 for youth 12-18 and free for children under 12.

www.usfieldhockey.com

2006 USA Field Hockey World Cup Squad
Kate Barber, Kayla Bashore, Lauren Crandall, Rachel Dawson, Sarah Dawson, Kelly Dostal, Kelly Doton, April Fronzoni, Kristi Gannon, Kelsey Keeran, Claire Laubach, Melissa Leonetti, Carrie Lingo, Angie Loy, Caroline Nichols, Lauren Powley, Dina Rizzo, Sara Silvetti, Keli Smith, Tiffany Snow, Amy Tran, Barbara Weinberg

2006 USA Developmental Squad
Kelsey Cutchins, Jill Dedman, Katelyn Falgowski, Jessica Javelet, Michelle Kasold, Mia Link, Katie O'Donnell, Dana Sensenig, Laura Suchoski


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