May 28, 2002

The U.S. women's field hockey team, which includes five current or former North Carolina players, has heeded a Department of State warning and returned home from India prior to its scheduled World Cup qualifying series. The U.S. team was scheduled to play India in a best-of-three series June 3-5 in New Delhi for the final spot in the 2002 World Cup, Nov. 24-Dec 8, in Perth, Australia.

Rising seniors Carrie Lingo and Amy Tran both were with the team, as were Tar Heel alums Kate Barber, Kristen McCann and Peggy Storrar.

The team, traveling with U.S. Olympic Committee Security Chief Larry Buendorf, was advised to leave the country following a U.S. Department of State warning that tensions between India and Pakistan had "...risen to serious levels, and the risk of intensified military hostilities...cannot be ruled out." International Hockey Federation (FIH) officials en route to India were likewise recalled.

This marks the second time international events have prevented the U.S. team from competing in a World Cup qualifier. The team was originally scheduled to compete in the World Cup Qualifying tournament in France last September, but the terrorist attacks in the U.S. grounded the team and prevented the U.S. from taking part in the tournament.

At that time, the FIH offered an alternative qualifying opportunity for the U.S. with a best-of-three series against the qualifying tournament's seventh-place team. India eventually earned the seventh-place spot.

An alternative venue for the series is currently under negotiation between the FIH, U.S. Field Hockey and the India Hockey Confederation.