Virginia To Host United States-Argentina Game June 18
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CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The University of Virginia will serve as host for a matchup between the United States national field hockey team and world-renowned Argentina June 18 at the University Hall Turf Field. Admission to the game will be free. The start time will be announced at a later date.
Virginia All-Americans Paige Selenski (Shavertown, Pa.) and Michelle Vittese (Cherry Hill, N.J.) will return to Charlottesville with the U.S. national team for the contest. The duo are vying for positions on the 16-player roster that will represent the United States in the 2012 Summer Olympic Games.
“The University of Virginia is tremendously excited to be hosting two Olympic teams this summer,” Virginia Director of Athletics Craig Littlepage said. “These two outstanding teams will compete on UVa’s state of the art blue turf. It will be a big thrill for the Charlottesville community to cheer on the USA team as it makes final preparations for the Olympics in London. Adding to our local anticipation is the fact that two Cavaliers, Michelle Vittese and Paige Selenski, stand for selection to the U.S. squad.”
Charlottesville will host just one of four test series games in Virginia for the Americans and world ranked No. 2 Argentina. Other stops on the tour include Old Dominion (June 20-21) and the National Training Center in Virginia Beach, Va., (June 23), in a game that will also be broadcast on the NBC Sports Network.
“We are looking forward to sending Team USA off to London with a little bit of Virginia hospitality,” Cavalier head coach Michele Madison said. “I am confident the Charlottesville community will embrace both teams and show its appreciation for playing in our backyard. It will be fun to watch and experience field hockey at the highest level right here in Charlottesville.”
The game at the University Hall Turf Field will give both teams the chance to compete on a surface similar to the Olympic venue in London, which also consists of a blue turf.
The U.S. upset Argentina in October to claim its first gold medal at the Pan American Games and automatically qualify for the Olympics. The game in Charlottsville will mark the first time the two teams have played each other since that pivotal gold medal match.
The 16-player Olympic roster will be announced by USA Field Hockey following the final match of the tour on June 23.