COLLEGE PARK, Md. – Two recent alums of the Maryland field hockey program were named to the U.S. Senior National Team roster this week. Anna Dessoye and Alyssa Parker were named to USA Field Hockey's top roster Friday.
Dessoye and Parker are two of six athletes to join the U.S. National Team roster. They will participate in the USWNT's centralized training program full-time at the Home of Hockey at Spooky Nook Sports in Lancaster County, Pa. The six athletes will join Team USA when training resumes in September following the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
“Each of the players demonstrated some excellent qualities throughout the trial,” said U.S. National Team head coach Craig Parnham. “The trial is designed to identify strengths across a range of attributes. The selected players were able to display their proficiency during the trial and now have the opportunity to continue to grow and develop as part of the U.S. Women's National Team's central program as it builds toward the 2017 Pan American Cup in Lancaster.”
Dessoye and Parker join former Terrapins Ali McEvoy Campbell, 2012 Olympian Katie O'Donnell Bam and Jill Witmer on the U.S. roster.
Dessoye was first named to the U.S. U-21 Women's National Team roster in 2013 and contended in the Junior World Cup in Germany. She was named an NFHCA All-American (2015), made NFHCA All-Mid Atlantic Region Team (Second - 2013; First - 2014, 2015) and All-Big Ten Team (Second - 2014; First - 2015).
"I am very grateful to be given the opportunity to be a member of the U.S. Women's National Team," said Dessoye. "Competing with this team is an amazing honor and has always been a dream of mine. I'm excited to get to work."
Parker won gold at the AAU Junior Olympics with Team USA (2010). She joined the U.S. U-19 Women's National Team in 2011. Parker was named to the U.S. U-21 Women's National Team (2014). Parker was also recognized with the NFHCA All-Region Second Team (2014 and 2015) and the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award (2014).
"When I initially got the invite from Craig, I called my mom," said Parker. "I really couldn't believe it. Knowing that I get to continue playing the sport I love is just surreal and knowing that my future job is to be a full-time athlete, that's the dream. In addition to having amazing teammates, my coaches at Maryland, Missy Meharg, Dina Rizzo, and Joppe de Vries have really provided a great support system these last four years. Their guidance pushed and encouraged me to continue to improve and learn every day. I also owe a lot to my high school coaches who convinced me to play field hockey instead of soccer."
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