Vizzuso Earns First International Cap for Field Hockey

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Feb. 24, 1998

CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand–Virginia’s Michelle Vizzuso (Fairfield, N.J./West Essex) earned her first international cap yesterday while helping the United States forge a 3-3 tie with New Zealand in field hockey action. Vizzuso, who was named to the national team in June, is playing with the rest of the team in preparation for the World Cup which will be held in the Netherlands in May.

Vizzuso was named to the All-American squad for the third conescutive year in 1997 as the Cavaliers advanced to the national semifinals for the first time in school history. Her 21 assists in 1997 set a new standard for assists in a season and she ranks third all-time at Virginia with 35 assists. She is the only player in school history to have 30 goals and 30 assists in her career.

The United States, ranked in the top six in the world, is playing a series of matches against New Zealand in various sites around New Zealand. The team will also compete in Australia in March and in Massachusetts in April against international competition. On the United States squad are Virginia teammates Meridith Thorpe (St. Louis, Mo./John Burroughs) and Lori Mastropietro (Richboro, Pa./Council Rock).