Former UD Standout Katie Evans Competes Against World’s Best in Four Nations Tournament for the USA National Team
February 15, 2011
Photo Courtesy of USA Field Hockey
MENDOZA, Argentina - - Former University of Delaware field hockey standout Katie Evans continues to make a name for herself as she was again named to the USA National Team as they travel to South America this week to take on three of the world’s top field hockey countries at the Four Nations Tournament.
Evans (at right, in Argentina), a 2006 graduate from Delaware, and her 17 other teammates that were selected to play in eight games in 11 days throughout Argentina, will battle the host and current world number one Argentina, number three Germany, and number five Australia in back-to-back Four Nations Tournaments.
The first half of the Four Nations Tournament was completed Sunday, as the USA Nationals took third place after defeating Germany, 3-2, in penalty strokes. The teams opened the tournament with a 5-0 loss to Argentina, but were able to keep the high-powered offense off the board in the second half. The Red, White and Blue kept the momentum of the second half into their next matchup against Australia, but a late second half goal by the fifth ranked team in the world was too much to overcome, as they fell 1-0.
The third game against Germany did not go USA’s way either. After knotting the game at 1-1 in the ninth minute, Germany added two more unanswered goals to take the 3-1 victory.
However, they got their revenge in the medal round, as Evans’ team tied the game at 1-1 and again at 2-2 before heading into overtime. After two scoreless overtime periods, the US put home three penalty strokes to put Germany away.
“It was a great opportunity to play in a game that had the intensity of a final, against quality opposition,” said head coach Lee Bodimeade, ask he talked to usafieldhockey.com following the contest.“The bonus of playing extra time and going into penalties to decide the game will provide valuable experience to our young team as we go forward. Obviously winning a game against the No. 3 ranked team in the world adds confidence.”
Evans has been a member of the national team since the 2005-06 season. Following a successful stint as a competitor on the USA Under-21 team, she was promoted to the Developmental Squad for 2007-08. After making her debut for the National Team on October 12, 2007, she has traveled the globe competing for the country's elite field hockey squad.
A four-year standout at Delaware, Evans (at right, as a Blue Hen) helped the Blue Hens win the 2004 Colonial Athletic Association title and earn a berth in the NCAA Tournament. During the run to the championship, Evans led the squad with 12 assists, marking the third-highest single-season total in program history.
During her career, she appeared in 74 games with 68 starts. She still ranks second all-time with 30 career assists, while she is one of only two players to record a pair of three-assist games in a Blue Hen uniform. A two-time All-CAA and All-Region selection, she also added 21 goals and scored 51 points during her stint in Newark.
Up next for the Evans and the USA National Team is the second half of the Four Nations Tournament. The team will take a trip to the east side of Argentina, competing against the same four nations, but this time in Rosario. The US will kick things off with a rematch against Germany on Wednesday, February 16 before playing Argentina on Thursday, and Australia on Saturday.
AGATE:
Four Nations Tournament, Rosario Argentina
Wednesday, February 16 2011: #3 Germany vs. USA; #5 Australia vs. #1 Argentina
Thursday, February 17, 2011: #5 Australia vs. #3 Germany; #1 Argentina vs. USA
Saturday, February 19, 2011: #5 Australia vs. USA; #1 Argentina vs. #3 Germany
Sunday, February 20, 2011: Bronze Medal Game; Championship Final
USA Roster: Torrie Albini (Escondido, CA), Kayla Bashore (Shoemakersville, Pa), Lauren Crandall (Doylestown, Pa), Rachel Dawson (Berlin, NJ), Katie Evans (Newtown Square, Pa), Maren Ford (Ann Arbor, MI), Melissa Gonzalez (Cortland, NY), Michelle Kasold (Chapel Hill, NC), Jackie Kintzer (Chapel Hill, NC), Claire Laubach (Bristow, VA), Caroline Nichols (Virginia Beach, VA), Katie O'Donnell (Blue Bell, Pa), Lauren Pffeifer (Iowa City, IA), Paige Selenski (Charlottesville, Pa), Keli Smith (Selinsgrove, Pa), Pam Speuhler (Sudbury, MA), Shannon Taylor (San Diego, CA), Michelle Vittese (Charlottesville, VA)
