June 26, 2007

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. - USA Field Hockey announced its 16-member women's team which will compete for the United States at the XV Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro from July 15-29. Wake Forest midfielder Michelle Kasold, along with former Demon Deacons, Lauren Crandall (2003-06) and Kelly Doton (2000-03) will all play in the Games for the first time.

Only five athletes have Pan Am Games experience including team captain Kate Barber, Carrie Lingo, Dina Rizzo, Keli Smith and goalkeeper Amy Tran. Doton is one of eight players who appeared in the 2006 World Cup, while Crandall, Kasold and Old Dominion's Dana Sensenig, all 2006 All-Americans, round out the USA's 16-member team.

The USA enters the Pan American Games as the No. 2 seed and will play in Pool `B' with Canada, Cuba and the Netherlands Antilles. Defending champion Argentina, Chile, Uruguay and host Brazil will play in Pool `A'. The USA women open play on July 17 against Netherlands Antilles.

The US squad has won medals in each Pan Am Games since the women's tournament was added to the quadrennial event in 1987, winning silver in 1987, 1995, 1999 and 2003 and a bronze in 1991. Argentina has won all five previous women's Pan Am Games tournaments.

The winner of the Pan Am Games earns the continent's automatic berth in the 2008 Olympic Games which are being held in Beijing. In addition, teams placing 2-6 in the women's tournament will earn spots in one of three Olympic Qualifying Tournaments in early 2008. The winners of the three qualifying tournaments will earn the final three berths in the 2008 Olympic Games.