June 25, 2007

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. - USA Field Hockey announced its 16-member women's Pan American Games team which will compete the games, July 15-29, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Among the 16 players are former Terrapins Lauren Powley ('06), Dina Rizzo ('02) and Keli Smith ('01). The USFHA also announced its 25-member full national squad, which also includes two more Terrapins Sara Silvetti ('05) and incoming freshman Katie O'Donnell.

Dina Rizzo (Walpole, Pa.) and Keli Smith (Selinsgrove, Pa.) are both making their second appearance at the Pan Am games, competing in the international event in 2003. Lauren Powley (Mountaintop, Pa.) has been on the national team since 2005 and participated in the 2006 World Cup. The Americans have medaled at the quadrennial event every year since it was added in 1987, winning silver four times and a bronze in 1991. Argentina has won all five previous women's Pan Am Games.

The winner of the Pan American Games earns the continent's automatic berth in the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China. In addition, teams placing 2-6 earn spots in one of three Olympic Qualifying Tournaments in early 2008. The winners of those qualifying tournaments clinch the final three berths in the 2008 Olympics.

In addition, Sara Silvetti (Wapwallopen, Pa.) and Katie O'Donnell (Blue Bell, Pa.), who begins her collegiate career at Maryland in the fall, were named to the U.S. National Team roster. Members of the team since 2005, Silvetti competed in the last World Cup, while O'Donnell was the youngest athlete to earn an international cap for the United States when she was 16.

The selections cap a week of play at the USA Field Hockey National Championships, which features six High Performance Training Centers (HPTC). The tournament serves as a selection event for the 2007-08 national team and the USA Pan American Games team. The Pennsylvania/New Jersey HPTC won the tournament over the Midwest, 6-1. O'Donnell was the tournament's leading scorer with nine goals, leading the PA/NJ squad to the title.

Conducted under the format of an international tournament, the National Championships features squads of current U.S. national team members and top collegiate players. Team members train during the spring at regionally-based training sites with the top players selected to represent their regions at the National Championships in Virginia Beach, Va.

Powley, Rizzo, Silvetti and Smith were all All-Americans during the tenure at Maryland. O'Donnell is a two-time high school All-American. For more information on U.S. Field Hockey, visit www.usfieldhockey.com.

-TERPS-