July 22, 2011
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IOWA CITY, Iowa — Sarah Drake and Kathleen McGraw have been selected to the 2011-12 United States Under-21 Junior Women’s National Squad.
“This has been a four step selection process and they have both performed admirably throughout,” said Iowa head coach Tracey Griesbaum. “The opportunity that they have had this summer has been outstanding. They will need to continue their growth throughout the season. This is a phenomenal way to represent the University of Iowa and the rich tradition that we have in field hockey.”
“I am really excited to be selected to play on the U21 squad,” said Drake. “It is a great honor to be given the opportunity to represent the U.S. on an athletic stage and I cannot wait to do so. It has always been a dream of mine to play hockey at the international level and I am lucky that the Iowa field hockey program has prepared me to compete with the best.”
Drake and McGraw competed at the Junior National Team Camp July 12-15, the most elite camp in the country. The U21, U19 and U17 Junior National Squads were selected from the event.
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“It has always been a dream of mine to play hockey at the international level and I am lucky that the Iowa field hockey program has prepared me to compete with the best.”
Iowa Junior Sarah Drake
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The members from each team will be invited to a training weekend at the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, Calif., in early 2012 and from there the touring teams will be selected.
McGraw, a junior, was named `Goalkeeper of the Tournament’ at the USA Junior High Performance Women’s National Championship, which was held June 18-25 in Virginia Beach, Va. The Atherton, Calif., native has started 33-of-34 career games played, where she has notched five shutouts. McGraw is a two-time NFHCA National Academic Squad member and was named Academic All-Big Ten in 2010.
Drake, a junior, has started all 36 career games played. The Ann Arbor, Mich., native was named second team All-Big Ten and Academic All-Big Ten as a sophomore. She is a two-time NFHCA National Academic Squad member.
Iowa had four standouts selected to the U21 team in 2005 — Caroline Blaum, Lauren Pfeiffer, Heather Schnepf and Kadi Sickel. Since 1983, 31 Hawkeyes have had the opportunity to represent the United States on a junior national team.