LANCASTER, Pa. – Current and past members of the Terrapin field hockey tree reunited this week at the U.S. National Team's series with Ireland at the Spooky Nook Sports Complex in Lancaster, Pa.
The series featured four former Terrapins including Irish National Team captain Megan Frazer, and 2012 Olympian Katie O'Donnell, Ali McEvoy and Jill Witmer, who all won NCAA Championships during their Maryland careers.
“It's a critical time in Olympic qualification for both countries,” Maryland head coach Missy Meharg said. “It's exciting to see former Terps battle it out in this setup. On behalf of Maryland athletics and Terp alumnae we are so proud of Katie, Megan, Ali and Jill.”
In Monday's series opener, Team USA beat Ireland 3-0. In Tuesday's second game, the Terrapins had a hand in all three of the U.S.'s goals in another 3-0 win. O'Donnell scored in the first few minutes to open the game, then McEvoy buried a stroke to make it 2-0. Witmer assisted on the third goal.
This series serves a warmup before both the U.S. and Ireland compete for a spot in the 2016 Olympics this summer.
“It's exciting to have this series with Ireland,” O'Donnell said. “They're strong competition and it's important to get this experience before our big tournaments this summer as we work on qualifying for the Olympics. Of course, as a Terp, it's exciting to see my old teammate Megan Frazer and it's fun that we can play this high level of hockey at home in Pennsylvania."
Frazer, who played for the Terrapins from 2009 through 2012, said, “It's really exciting to be back in the states and get a chance to see so many friends and great people I met in my time here. I'm really excited to come here with the Irish National Team to get some great experience before our Olympic qualifiers this summer."
Terrapins past and present made the short trip to Lancaster, Pa. to take in Tuesday's match.
Dr. Kate Skinker of the hearing and speech sciences department made the trip to support the Maryland players she worked with and the event.
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-
