Jan. 13, 2000

COLLEGE PARK, MD. - Maryland junior midfielder Carla Tagliente has been named to the 22-member U.S. National Team. The squad, which also includes former Maryland stars Kate Kauffman (1992-96) Christine DeBow (1994-97), is aiming to qualify for this year's Olympics, which will be held Sept. 15-Oct. 1 in Sydney, Australia.

The U.S. National Team will travel to the 10 team Olympic Qualifying Tournament, which will be held March 24-April 2 in Milton Keynes, England, in an attempt to gain an at-large bid to the Olympics. The Americans will have to place among the top five teams to earn a trip to Sydney. Argentina defeated the Americans 5-2 at last summer's Pan Am Games to secure an automatic bid.

Should the U.S. earn an at-large bid and Tagliente be among the final 16 players, it would mark the second time a current Maryland field hockey player has competed in the Olympics. Kauffman was on the 1996 squad that competed in the Atlanta Olympics.

Tagliente is a three-time All-American and has helped lead the Terps to the 1998 and 1999 ACC titles as well as the 1999 NCAA championship. She is a two-time U.S. National Team member, having also made the squad in 1997 and 1999.

Kauffman has been on the U.S. National Team since 1996 and DeBow has competed on the squad since 1997.