VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. - Three former Maryland Terrapins are bound for the 2008 Beijing Olympics in August. Terp All-Americans Lauren Powley, Dina Rizzo and Keli Smith were selected to the 16-member squad, which was announced on Monday night by USA Field Hockey. The three veteran members of the squad are making their first-ever appearance at the Olympic Games.

Also announced on Monday evening was Olympic Team alternate Sara Silvetti (Wapwallopen, Mass.). She will travel with the team to China, as well. The United States women's field hockey team is making their first Olympic Games appearance since 1996.

Lauren Powley (Mountaintop, Pa.), Dina Rizzo (Walpole, Mass.) and Keli Smith (Selinsgrove, Pa.) are veteran members of the U.S. National Team, each claiming at least 60 international caps. Rizzo and Smith have collected over 100 in their careers with the national team. The trio helped the U.S. squad capture the Olympic berth, leading the Americans to a gold medal at the Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Kazan, Russia in April.

The USA squad will participate in a four nation tournament in Bremen, Germany, with Korea, India and host-Germany from July 4-6. The team completes its tour with a three-game series against the Netherlands, ranked No. 1 in the world, July 9-12.

The national team opens its Olympic Games competition on Sunday, August 10 against 2007 Pan American Games champion Argentina. The Red, White and Blue are slotted to play in Pool B with Argentina, Germany, Great Britain, Japan and New Zealand.

All U.S. field hockey matches will be televised nationally by NBC.

For more information, visit www.usafieldhockey.com.

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