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April 24, 2008

KAZAN, RUSSIA -- Former Lady Monarchs Tiffany Snow (Escondido, Calif.), Angie Loy (Loysville, Pa.), Melissa Leonetti (Erdenheim, Pa.), Dana Sensenig (Denver, Pa.), and Caroline Nichols (Va. Beach, Va.) have helped the U.S. National Field Hockey squad secure a possible place in the finals of the World Hockey Olympic Qualifiers in Kazan, Russia and a possible trip to the 2008 Olympics.

The USA Women's National Team (4-0) is the only undefeated team in the tournament. They have outscored their opponents 21-2 and have shut out their last three.

The U.S. faces Netherland Antilles on Saturday, April 26 in a potential tournament finals preview.

The U.S. is currently in first place in the tournament standings with 12 points with one game to play and has effectively secured a place in the final with 24 goals scored. Netherlands Antilles would need to defeat the US by double-digit goals on Saturday to push the Americans completely out of the final.

The national team opened up tournament action with a 3-2 victory over Belgium, including a game-winner by Loy in the game's 47th minute. Action followed with the U.S. claiming a 7-0 win over host Russia behind three goals from Snow and additional goals coming from Loy and Sensenig. The potential Beijing bound squad also earned a 7-0 victory over France. Against the French, Loy captured two goals on her 26th birthday with former college teammates Snow and Leonetti also getting into the mix. The national team then solified its place in the qualifier's final with a 4-0 win over India. Loy, who was playing in her 100th game as a member of the U.S. National Team, found the back of the cage in her squad's third straight shutout for her fifth goal of the tournament.

For more information about USA Field Hockey, visit www.usfieldhockey.com. For updates on the Olympic qualifying tournaments, visit www.worldhockey.org.