US to host a Five-Test Series against Japan
United States of America (USA) is to host a five-Test hockey series against Japan at the Olympic Training Centre in Chula Vista, California from April 23-27.
USA Field Hockey raised funds for the Japan Disaster Relief on account for the earthquake that hit the country last month, March. The amount was collected through the American Red Cross and will be handed over to Japan’s National team prior to the
first match on April 23. Presently, a total of $10,000 has been collected through the relief programme.
The US team’s Director, Kate Reisinger, said, “Because the field hockey community is so strong in the USA, we knew we could count on what we call the field hockey family to contribute. While it’s going to be a small amount in the big scheme of things,
we hope that our gesture can provide some sort of relief to them.’’
The matches are scheduled to be played on April 23, 24, 26, 27 and 29 and the spectators attending the event will donate for Japan at the venue.
Apart from the fund-raising, these matches will also act as a preparation session of US team for the upcoming Pan American Games (PAG) in October 2011. The Japanese team is not among the PAG rivals, being ranked 10th worldwide, so both the
teams will have a quality competition during these matches.
The PAG 2011 will be held in Guadalajara, Mexico in October and the team who wins the title will automatically qualify for the 2012 London Olympic Games.
The US women squad, which is to play the five Test series against Japan, includes Caroline Nichols, Carrie Lingo, Claire Laubach, Jackie Kintzer, Katelyn Smither, Katie O'Donnell, Kayla Bashore-Smedley, Kelly Driscoll, Lauren Crandall, Lauren Pfeiffer,
Maren Ford, Melanie Brill, Michelle Kasold, Pam Spuehler, Rachel Dawson, Shannon Taylor, Torrie Albini, Melissa Gonzalez, Michelle Vittese, Brianna Davies and Paige Selenski.
Moreover, the Japanese women tam squad to tour US includes Masako Sato, Sakiyo Asano, Rika Komazawa, Yukari Yamamoto, Akane Shibata, Keiko Manabe, Aki Mitsuhasi, Miyuki Nakagawa, Sachimi Iwoa, Shiho Otsuka, Ai Murakami, Nane Ozawa, Izuki Tanaka, Misato
Katamine, Chie Akutsu, Nagisa Hayashi, Kana Nomura, Shiho Sakai and Akiko Ota.
In other developments, USA Field Hockey also announced the schedule for the 2011 National Futures Championships on April 18 in Colorado.
This event will feature team practice matches, opening Ceremony and a celebration dinner for the athletes on June 25, followed by the event opening day on June 26.
USA Field Hockey announced a new structure featuring mixed-teams in the event. This means that apart from the U-14 mixed teams, the U-19 and U-16 teams will also be mixed at the national level.
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