USA Field Hockey is hosting a two-game friendly series against New Zealand in December and the roster for it has also been announced, according to the organization.
The series is December 9 and 10 at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. The series will help team USA in its preparation before the FIH Hockey Olympic Qualifier in January.
The United Eagles earned silver in the Pan American games. The team lost to Argentina 2-1, which qualified the Argentinian squad for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France.
“These are idea matches to have at this time although it will be strange playing a team we have also drawn in our pool for the Olympic Qualifier in Ranchi,” the USA Women’s National Team head coach David Passmore said in a USA Field Hockey release. “With so many matches in the early part of the new year (13 in January and February alone) it is important we have depth to our squad. Those who were not with the squad in Chile have clearly been training very hard which has been obvious in our first training sessions, and I see selection being very close again, which is a bonus to have as a coach. We are delighted to be hosting our first matches at our new facility in Charlotte and for the support of the United States Performance Center in making this happen.”
Several of the new faces on the team had strong performances either at the 2023 Senior Nexus Championship or during their collegiate season. They include Bethany Dykema, Sophia Gladieux, Charlotte de Vries and Caroline Ramsey.
USA Field Hockey noted that Abigail Tamer will not be participating in the series. She will be with the U.S. U-21 Women’s National Team competing at the 2023 FIH Hockey Women’s Junior World Cup in Santiago, Chile.
“Bethany Dykema really impressed us at the Senior Nexus Championship last summer, did well when she came into the squad for a week in August, and adds physicality and pace to our defensive line,” Passmore told USA Field Hockey. “It will be interesting to see how she copes with the pace and intensity of international hockey, but I believe she has many of the qualities which will stand her in good stead.”
For each game day, a roster of 18 athletes will be selected to compete. The squads for the FIH Hockey Olympic Qualifier taking place January 13 to 19 in Ranchi, India and FIH Hockey Pro League in Bhubeneswar and Rourkela, India will be named the week after these matches conclude.
Both matches are free and open to the public and will be live streamed by HomeTeam Sports. For more information regarding the 2023 USWNT vs. New Zealand Series, visit the event page. Click here to read USA Field Hockey’s statement.
USWNT Roster
Kelsey Bing (Houston, Texas)
Sanne Caarls (Niew-Vennep, Netherlands)
Leah Crouse (Virginia Beach, Va.)
Charlotte de Vries (Malvern, Pa.)
Brooke DeBerdine (Millersville, Pa.)
Emma DeBerdine (Millersville, Pa.)
Bethany Dykema (Newport News, Va.)
Sophia Gladieux (Boyertown, Pa.)
Amanda Golini (Randolph, N.J.)
Linnea Gonzales (Bel Air, Md.)
Fusine Govaert (Bedford, N.Y.)
Danielle Grega (Kingston, Pa.)
Ally Hammel (Duxbury, Mass.)
Ashley Hoffman (Mohnton, Pa.)
Karlie Kisha (Hamburg, Pa.)
Kelee Lepage (Honey Brook, Pa.)
Caroline Ramsey (Morristown, N.J.)
Jenny Rizzo (Hershey, Pa.)
Kealsie Robles (Seaford, Va.)
Ashley Sessa (Schwenksville, Pa.)
Meredith Sholder (Fleetwood, Pa.)
Cassie Sumfest (Lewisburg, Pa.)
Megan Valzonis (San Diego, Calif.)
Jillian Wolgemuth (Mount Joy, Pa.)
Beth Yeager (Greenwich, Conn.)
Maddie Zimmer (Hershey, Pa.)
USWNT vs New Zealand Schedule
Saturday, December 9 2:00 p.m. ET
Sunday, December 10 2:00 p.m. ET
