University of North Carolina Athletics
Five From UNC Named To U.S. Olympic Field Hockey Team
July 1, 2016 | Field Hockey
Dawson and Falgowski will play in the Olympics for the third time. Briggs, the team's starting goalkeeper, was an alternate for the 2012 Olympics in London and was in attendance but did not play. Kolojejchick and Van Sickle both will make their first Olympic appearances.
All five played for the Champions Trophy team that won a bronze medal in London last month, competing against the best teams in the world. The U.S. went into that competition ranked No. 7 in the world and is now ranked No. 5.
The U.S. opens Olympic play on Aug. 6 against Argentina, ranked second in the world. Also in Pool B are No. 3 Australia, No. 7 Great Britain, No. 10 Japan and No. 13 India. Pool play continues through Aug. 13. Quarterfinals are on Aug. 15, semifinals on Aug. 17 and the gold medal game on Aug. 19. For a full schedule, click here.
For a USA Field Hockey selection video, click here.
2016 U.S. Olympic Women's Field Hockey Team:
Goalkeeper:
Jackie Briggs (Robesonia, Pa.)
Defenders:
Lauren Crandall (2008, 2012 Olympian // Doylestown, Pa.)
Stefanie Fee (Virginia Beach, Va.)
Julia Reinprecht (2012 Olympian // Perkasie, Pa.)
Rachel Dawson (2008, 2012 Olympian // Berlin, N.J.)
Alyssa Manley (Lititz, Pa.)
Caitlin Van Sickle (Wilmington, Del.)
Midfielders:
Katelyn Falgowski (2008, 2012 Olympian // Landenberg, Pa.)
Melissa Gonzalez (2012 Olympian // Mohegan, N.Y.)
Katie Reinprecht (2012 Olympian // Perkasie, Pa.)
Michelle Vittese (Cherry Hill, N.J.)
Strikers:
Michelle Kasold (2012 Olympian // Chapel Hill, N.C.)
Katie Bam (2012 Olympian // Blue Bell, Pa.)
Jill Witmer (Lancaster, Pa.)
Kat Sharkey (Moosic, Pa.)
Kelsey Kolojejchick (Larksville, Pa.)
Alternates:
Paige Selenski (2012 Olympian // Shavertown, Pa.)
Alesha Widdall (Whitney Point, Pa.)
UNC's Field Hockey Olympians
1980: Karen Shelton (the U.S. team did not compete)
1984: Karen Shelton
1996: Laurel Hershey, Leslie Lyness, Cindy Werley
2008: Kate Barber, Rachel Dawson, Katelyn Falgowski, Jesse Gey, Carrie Lingo, Amy Tran
2012: Rachel Dawson, Katelyn Falgowski, Amy Tran Swensen (Alternate: Jackie Kintzer) – U.S.; Illse Davids – South Africa
2016: Jackie Briggs, Rachel Dawson, Katelyn Falgowski, Kelsey Kolojejchick, Caitlin Van Sickle
