June 9, 2010
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IOWA CITY, IA – – Eight former and current University of Iowa field hockey team members will compete in the USA High Performance Women’s National Championships. The standouts will compete on various teams in which they were required to try out and were selected.
The tournament will be held June 20-26 in Virginia Beach, VA, and features a round-robin format featuring the top athletes from USA Field Hockey’s six regional High Performance Centers.
Caroline Blaum, Lauren Pfeiffer, Sarah Pergine and Sarah Drake will compete on the Midwest Team.
Blaum was a four-time team captain, a three-time all-Big Ten selection and a two-time regional all-American for the Hawkeyes. The Wilkes-Barre, PA, native started all 83 games in her career. As a senior, Blaum was named NFHCA first team all-American, leading the Hawkeyes in assists. Blaum, a member of the 2009-2010 U.S. National Team, has a great deal of playing experience on the national scene. She competed with the National Team in a five-game test series in Argentina in 2009. Blaum was also a member of the 2007 and 2008 HPTC Midwest Region Teams, the 2006 EPTC Midwest Region Team and the 2005 U.S. Under-21 Team. In addition, Blaum served as an alternate on the 2004 U.S. Under-21 Squad.
Pfeiffer, a member of the 2009-2010 U.S. National Team, was a two time all-American at Iowa. During her career, Pfeiffer earned all-Region honors three times, first team all-Big Ten honors twice and was named Big Ten Tournament MVP twice. She was selected to play in the NFHCA All-Star game as a senior after leading the Black and Gold in points (44) and goals (20). She ended her career with 53 goals to rank her ninth in Hawkeye history. Pfeiffer, who started all 83 games in her career, currently serves as Iowa’s volunteer assistant coach.
Pergine, a senior, started all 19 games in 2009, recording a team-high 10 assists. In 2008, she helped lead Iowa to the NCAA Final Four, ranking second on the team in assists, tied for first in game-winning goals, four in points and fourth in goals.
Drake, a sophomore, started every game as a freshman for the Black and Gold in 2009. She was named to the NFHCA National Academic Squad and was named Big Ten Freshman of the Week twice. Drake amassed eight goals and 17 points on the season, which both ranked third on the team.
Sarah Dawson and Barb Weinberg will compete on the California Team. Both are members of the 2009-2010 U.S. National Team.
Dawson, a native of Berlin, NJ, lettered at Iowa from 2001-04. She led Iowa in goals and points in 2001 and 2004. In 2004, she was named NFHCA regional all-American and first team national all-American. Additionally, she was named all-Big Ten in 2003 and 2004.
Weinberg, a native of Louisville, KY, served as a volunteer assistant coach at Iowa in 2007 and 2008. Weinberg led the Hawkeyes in saves each season from 2001-04. She was a three-time member of the NFHCA regional all-American team, a two-time NFHCA national all-American and a three-time first team all-Big Ten honoree. Weinberg served as an alternate on the 2008 U.S. Olympic team.
Roz Ellis will compete on the South Team.
Ellis, a two-time first team all-Big Ten selection, started all 83 career games. She was named an NFHCA second team all-American and a first team NFHCA West Region all-American in 2008 while serving as a team captain. In addition, Ellis was named to the 2008 NCAA all-Tournament team after helping lead Iowa to the NCAA Final Four. She was also named second team West Region all-American in 2007.
Additionally, Kelsey Mitchell, an incoming Hawkeye freshman, is competing on the New Jersey Junior High Performance Team.
Mitchell, a forward from Berlin, NJ, was a two-time NFHCA High School first team all-American and was named New Jersey State Player of the Year twice. The Eastern Regional High School standout holds the high school record for career goals in the state of New Jersey (171). Mitchell was a member of the 2008 and 2009 United States U16 National Team that competed on the Holland Tour.
Each athlete competing in the tournament can be selected to the U.S. National Squad upon its conclusion.