USA, Former Terps Work to Qualify for Olympics
4/19/2015 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Four former Terrapins and their respective national teams are preparing for the Olympic qualifying process. Ali McEvoy, Katie O'Donnell and Jill Witmer all played with Team USA in the 8 Nations Tournament in Hawke's Bay, New Zealand, while Megan Frazer is captain of the Irish National Team.
Team USA picked up three wins in the tournament, defeating powerhouse Argentina 3-0 in Sunday's finale. Argentina applied plenty of early pressure but it was the USA that went into the halftime break in the lead 2-0. The opening goal for the USA went to Witmer who swept the ball into the net from a penalty corner.
Six minutes later it was still a two-goal lead when O'Donnell was allowed to run and her shot from just inside the circle crept in at the left hand post.
“This tournament has given us some terrific game time and has been great preparation for the upcoming World League matches which include the incentive of qualifying for the Rio Olympics next year," U.S. head coach Craig Parnham said.
Next, Team USA will host Frazer and her Irish team for a series in Lancaster, Pa. May 18-21.
Both the U.S. and Ireland will travel to Valencia, Spain June 10-21 for the World League Semifinals. The top three teams in the tournament will earn their ticket to the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janiero.
Team USA will have another chance to qualify for the Olympics at the Pan American Games in Toronto in July.
-Terps-
