3 Hawkeyes to Compete in Pan American Cup

Sept. 19, 2013

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IOWA CITY, Iowa — University of Iowa freshman Stephanie Norlander and former Hawkeye All-Americans Jessica Barnett and Meghan Beamesderfer will compete in the 2013 Pan American Cup, Sept. 21-28, in Mendoza, Argentina. Norlander and Barnett will represent Canada, and Beamesderfer will play for the United States National Team. Norlander is the youngest player on Team Canada.

“We have had that history (of Iowa representation) in our program for a while, but to sustain it says a lot about our consistency and the student-athletes we are bringing in,” said UI head coach Tracey Griesbaum. “We are recruiting athletes that are driven and committed, and we feel within our program we have the platform and expertise to bring them along. It is awesome; it says a lot about our program. I am really proud of all three.”

Beamesderfer spent the last seven seasons as a member of the Iowa program before being selected to the 2013-14 U.S. Women’s National Team alongside former teammate Lauren Pfeiffer. As a student-athlete, Beamesderfer led Iowa to three-straight Big Ten Tournament titles (2006-08) and the 2008 NCAA Final Four. She finished her career as a two-time All-American, a four-time regional All-American and a three-time All-Big Ten honoree. In 2006, she was named Big Ten Freshman of the Year. As a senior in 2009, she led the team in goals (10) and defensive saves (four) and was named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year. Beamesderfer, who started all 84 career games played, was also a team captain and MVP.

Barnett, a native of North Vancouver, Canada, started every game (77) of her Hawkeye career. Iowa’s 2012 and 2013 Female Athlete of the Year, she was a two-time All-American, and three-time All-Big Ten honoree, regional All-American and Big Ten All-Tournament selection. A two-time team captain, she was named the team MVP as well as Big Ten Player of the Week three times. Barnett has competed for the Canadian Senior National Team and the Canadian Junior National Team.

Norlander, the reigning Big Ten Freshman of the Week, and fellow Hawkeye Karli Johansen, competed in the ERGO Field Hockey Junior World Cup, July 27 – Aug. 4, in Germany, as members of the U21 Canadian National Team. The North Vancouver, Canada, native has played in all six games for Iowa and is tied for the team leads in goals (four) and is second in points (eight). Norlander, selected to the Canadian Junior Development Squad in April, led Handsworth to Provincial Championship titles in 2011 and 2012, serving as a co-captain with Hawkeye teammate Sophie Plasteras in 2012. The forward/midfielder was also named captain of the U17 Canadian Junior National team for a test series against the USA after being chosen to the team in the summer of 2011. Norlander was selected to the Field Hockey BC Provincial team for four consecutive seasons, winning national titles in 2011 and 2012.

Barnett, Johansen, Norlander and Plasteras hail from Handsworth Secondary School in North Vancouver, Canada.

The champion of the Pan American Cup qualifies for the 2014 Women’s World Cup. The top six teams will qualify for the 2017 Pan American Cup and the teams placing seventh and eighth will play in the 2015 Pan American Challenge.

“I have competed and coached in this tournament, and it is always fun to represent your country,” said Griesbaum. “Now that I am on the other end of it and see our student-athletes go through it, it is extremely rewarding. It is usually a childhood dream for these athletes to not only play at the collegiate level, then execute and achieve things as a Hawkeye, but to also represent your country. They are not going to stop there; they want to win gold in this championship.”