Former Field Hockey Terp Teammates Square Off at Pan Am Games
7/19/2007 8:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
July 19, 2007
RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil - Former Terrapin field hockey teammates Paula Infante and Lauren Powley square off at the Pan American Games as members of the Chile and U.S. National Teams, respectively, for the right to advance to the gold medal game. Former Maryland All-American Keli Smith has also helped the U.S. squad clinch a spot in the semifinals. The semifinal match takes place on July 21 at 3 p.m. ET.
Paula Infante (Santiago, Chile) and Lauren Powley (Mountaintop, Pa.) were members of the 2005 NCAA Championship squad. Both were four-time All-Americans, while Infante went on to help Maryland capture the 2006 title, as well.
With Powley and Keli Smith (Selinsgrove, Pa.), a three-time All-American while at Maryland, starting every game for the U.S., the Americans have gone 3-0 in pool play, defeating the Netherlands Antilles (4-1), Cuba (7-0) and Canada (6-0). The U.S. is looking to make its fifth appearance in the Pan Am finals in six tries.
Smith has scored twice in the Pan Am Games so far, tallying a goal against Antilles and the Cubans.
Infante, who will be joining the coaching staff this fall as an undergraduate assistant coach while completing her dual degree, has also scored twice at the Pan Am Games, helping the Chilean squad to a 2-1 record. Chile opened with a 6-0 rout of Uruguay, then easily topped host Brazil, 9-0, before falling in a close match to the Argentines, 2-1. Argentina is considered one of the top field hockey teams in the world.
The winner of the Pan Am Games earns the continent's automatic berth in the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China. In addition, teams placing 2-6 in the women's tournament will earn spots in one of three Olympic Qualifying Tournaments in early 2008. The winners of the three qualifying tournaments will earn the final three berths in the 2008 Olympic Games.
To follow the Pan American field hockey games, live stats are available at www.usfieldhockey.com. For information on the Pan Am Games, visit www.rio2007.org.br.
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