Alexa Hoover, a former superstar on the Penn field hockey team, has been selected by USA Field Hockey for a four-game test series in Chile in May. In January, Hoover was one of 21 players picked for the U.S. Women’s National Development Squad. She will travel with the team to Santiago to compete against Chile’s Women’s and U-19 Women’s National Team from May 15-24.
Hoover is Penn’s all-time leader in goals (68) and points (163), which place her fourth in Ivy League history in both categories. She is also a two-time All-American and the first Quaker to earn four First-Team All-Ivy selections.
“Alexa has been continuing to train daily and working hard to balance her commitment to pursue her post-collegiate playing career, enjoying her last semester at Penn and her schoolwork,” says Colleen Fink, head coach of the Penn field hockey team. “I am thrilled the U.S. staff has noticed and rewarded Alexa’s talent with this wonderful opportunity to represent a new Red (White) and Blue.”
The U.S. Women’s National Development Squad accounts for the transitional phase between the U-21 U.S. Women’s National Team and the senior U.S. Women’s National Team (USWNT).
“The players have worked very hard in their training sessions and I am very pleased that the Development Squad will have this opportunity to gain international game experience and play strong competition,” says Jun Kentwell, head coach of the Development Squad. “It is important that they are exposed to playing at this level and different styles of play to prepare them for the next step to the USWNT.”
USWNT Head Coach Janneke Schopman says the series in Chile is a great opportunity for the Development Team to gain valuable international experience.
“I am keen to observe how the players and team perform and show me and the staff how close they are to play in the U.S. Women’s National Team,” she says.
