Field Hockey was held in 1908 and 1920 but didn’t fully take its place in the Olympics until 1928. The women’s version of things didn’t start until 1976. The US men haven’t qualified since 1996 (when they were in as the hosts) and haven’t played in an Olympics on foreign soil since 1956. The US women are in the Olympics for the third straight time for the first time. The competition will be held in the brand new Olympic Hockey Center. The US qualified at the Pan American Games in 2015.
The Team:
The US Team is made up of 16 women. Nine members of the team were part of the group in London with three making their third straight Olympic experience. It’s still a fairly young team with Lauren Crandall the oldest at 31 and Alyssa Manley the youngest at 22.
Links are to twitter accounts for the athletes.
USA Field Hockey
Katie Bam*
Jackie Briggs
Lauren Crandall**
Rachel Dawson**
Katelyn Falgowski**
Stefanie Fee
Melissa Gonzalez*
Michelle Kasold*
Kelsey Kolojejchick
Alyssa Manley
Julia Reinprecht*
Katie Reinprecht*
Kat Sharkey
Caitlin Van Sickle
Michelle Vittese*
Jill Witmer
* – Was on team in 2012 – London
** – Was on team in 2012 and 2008 (Beijing)
Format:
There will be a five game group stage followed by a tournament amongst the eight teams which finish in the top four spots of the two groups. Wins are worth three points and draws a single point in the group stage with GD the top tiebreaker.
Schedule:
All Times ET
Saturday, August 6th
4 PM – Women’s Group Stage – USA vs. Argentina
Monday, August 8th
9 AM – Women’s Group Stage – USA vs. Australia
Wednesday, August 10th
4 PM – Women’s Group Stage – USA vs. Japan
Thursday, August 11th
6:30 PM – Women’s Group Stage – USA vs. India
Saturday, August 13th
5 PM – Women’s Group Stage – USA vs. Great Britain
Monday, August 15th
9/11:30 AM/5/7:30 PM – Women’s Quarterfinals
Wednesday, August 17th
11 AM/4 PM – Women’s Semifinals
Friday, August 19th
11 AM – Women’s Bronze Medal Match
4 PM – Women’s Gold Medal Match
Past Results:
The US hasn’t medaled since bronze in 1984 so obviously none of the current members have medaled.
