Aug. 6, 2007

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Maryland field hockey incoming freshmen Meghan Dean and Katie O'Donnell were selected to the U.S. U-21 National Team, the U.S. Field Hockey Association recently announced. Selections were made after team trials were held in July at Babson College.

Meghan Dean (Marathon, N.Y.) and Katie O'Donnell (Blue Bell, Pa.) have made previous stints with the U-21 squad. They are two of 28 players who were named to the team. The U.S. will begin preparations for the 2008 Pan American Junior Championships in Mexico City, Mexico, as well as, the 2009 Junior World Cup.

A three-time high school All-American, earning a spot on the first team twice, Dean was a member of the 2007 U-21 team that played a series in China this summer. She also played in the 2006 U21 USA/Canada Challenge. Dean is a midfielder who comes to Maryland from Marathon High, the same high school former Terrapin greats Carla Tagliente and Tiffany Marsh attended.

O'Donnell was named to the team for the third-consecutive year. She is also a member of the U.S. Senior National Team and was the youngest athlete to earn a senior international cap for the United States when she was 16. She played in the 2005 Junior World Cup in Santiago, Chile, alongside former All-American Terrapin and current National Team member Lauren Powley. O'Donnell is a forward-midfielder and was a two-time high school All-American at Wissahickon High.

The 2007 Terps report to preseason camp on Wednesday, Aug. 9. Maryland is coming off the heels of its second-straight NCAA Championship win, claiming the 2005 and 2006 titles. Returning eight starters and 13 letterwinners from last year's team, it opens the season on Sunday, Aug. 26 vs. Central Michigan.

-TERPS-