June 17, 2008
WASHINGTON - American University field hockey will be represented at the Women's National Championship, being held June 13-21, at Virginia Beach, by former Eagles standout Maureen Daniel and current player Savannah Graybill. Both were named to the Maryland Thundersticks roster.
The Thundersticks are one of six squads that will compete at the championships with teams from the Midwest, the South, New England, New Jersey and a combined team from Pennsylvania and California. Each team is comprised of current U.S. National Team and U-21 players with the final spots being filled from a series of open tryouts held in April and May. Daniel and Graybill were selected through the tryout process.
Daniel, a 2005 graduate, is currently playing in Holland for the HDM team that competes in the Hoofdklasse, the top field hockey division in the world. Daniel was a second team All-American at AU and a two-time All-Patriot League First Team selection. She finished her career at AU ranked 10th in points (74) and eighth in assists (24).
Graybill, who will be a junior in the Fall, is coming off of a career-best and team-high 13 goal season. She ranked second on the team in points this year with 28 including a team-best four game-winning goals. Graybill is a two-year starter for the Eagles and was a second-team All-Patriot League this season.
"We are enormously proud of Savannah and Maureen for their selection to the National Championship tournament," head coach Steve Jennings said. "It is a great accomplishment particularly in an Olympic Year. The National Championship serves as the final Olympic and Junior National Team trials. Their selection is further evidence of American University's continued rise to national prominence. "
Maryland will open up pool play on Saturday versus California/Pennsylvania and will play each of the five teams before being seeded in the medal round.
