Kentwell Announces Women’s 2023 FIH Indoor Hockey World Cup Team

PRETORIA, South Africa – Following a Final Selection Camp at the end of December, U.S. Women’s National Indoor Team Head Coach Jun Kentwell has named the 14-athlete roster to represent the USA at the 2023 FIH Indoor Hockey World Cup (IHWC), that will be held at the Heartfelt Arena in Pretoria, South Africa from February 5 to 11.

“With our starting line-up from our Indoor Pan American Cup winning team unavailable due to other national team commitments, I am pleased that veterans from our 2018 IHWC team Annie McDonough and Sarah Johnson have come back, along with Sam Carlino, to lead our young squad,” commented Kentwell. “All the players have come up through the indoor program’s junior and development squads and many have promising outdoor futures ahead of them. The IHWC will give these talented young players valuable exposure and experience on the world stage.”

“I look to see the team grow through the tournament and hope that we can improve on our tenth place finish at the last Indoor World Cup.”

Abby Burnett (Zionsville, Pa.), Samantha Carlino (Kennett Square, Pa.), Reese D’Ariano (West Chester, Pa.), Nathalie Friedman (Phoenix, Md.), Annika Herbine (Macungie, Pa.), Sarah Johnson (Lincoln University, Pa.), Lauren Kenah (Telford, Pa.), Sydney Mandato (Telford, Pa.), Annie McDonough (Kennett Square, Pa.), Sabrina McGroarty (Mickleton, N.J.), Hannah Miller (Malvern, Pa.), Opal Sparling (Chester Springs, Pa.), Elizabeth Tamburro (Phoenixville, Pa.), Melea Weber (Macungie, Pa.)

Three athletes on this roster were part of the squad in 2018 that competed at the FIH Indoor Hockey World Cup in Berlin, Germany. Led by goalkeeper Samantha Carlino (Kennett Square, Pa.) she is joined by Sarah Johnson (Lincoln University, Pa.) and Annie McDonough (Kennett Square, Pa.). From the 2021 Indoor Pan American Cup (IPAC) team that qualified, Carlino is the only remaining rostered athlete. The others named to the roster have worked their way through the Junior U.S. Women’s National Indoor Team program.

Kentwell will lead the squad, with Richard Kentwell as the team manager, Maddy Sposito as the video analyst and Roxanne Smith as the physiotherapist.

The 2023 IHWC, which was originally set to take place in February 2022 in Liège, Belgium, will be held at the Heartfelt Arena in Pretoria, South Africa from February 5 to 11. The 12-team women’s tournament includes many within the top-20 of the FIH Indoor World Rankings. No. 12 USA sits in Pool A with No. 2 Netherlands, No. 8 Austria, No. 9 Australia, No. 14 South Africa and New Zealand. Pool B consists of No. 4 Ukraine, No. 5 Czech Republic, No. 9 Namibia, No. 11 Kazakhstan, No. 15 Belgium and No. 16 Canada.

The Quarterfinals will start on Friday, February 10 with the Semifinals and Finals on Saturday, February 11.

The men’s and women’s 2023 IHWC will be available to view on Watch.Hockey ($). Stay tuned to USA Field Hockey for more information regarding the livestream.

For more information regarding the FIH Indoor Hockey World Cup check out the event page.

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