June 6, 2012

COLLEGE PARK, Md. -- A mere four months after being named to the U.S. Junior National Squad in February, Northwestern's Maddy Carpenter and Nikki Parsley are showing off their skills on the Midwest team -- lead by NU head coach Tracey Fuchs -- in the U.S. Women's National Championship in College Park, Md. The two hold hopes of earning a roster spot on the U.S. National Team or the Development Squad, and can do so by performing well in tournament play.

In recent action, Parsley, a versatile rising junior for the 'Cats, notched her first points of the championship with a goal in a 4-1 win over California. Soon-to-be sophomore Carpenter minded the net for the second time for the victorious Midwest (2-2).

The Women's National Championship consists of eight regions from throughout the States (California, New England, New Jersey, Mid Atlantic, Midwest, North, Pennsylvania and South), and serves as a platform for the sport's best athletes to earn the chance to represent their country in international matches around the globe, including both the 2012 Olympic Games in London and the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Action from the 2012 Women's National Championship wraps up Friday, and Fuchs' Midwest will take on Mid Atlantic in the fifth place matchup, scheduled for 11 a.m. Fans can follow all the action by visiting Team USA's field hockey site HERE, where it has the option of navigating through statistics and news as well.

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