Hurff to Play International Contest vs. Japan
11/24/2015 3:48:00 PM | Field Hockey
Following stellar performance during Syracuse sophomore midfielder Laura Hurff has been selected as one of the U.S. Field Hockey U-21's transitional players and will compete with the U.S. national team in a transitional series with Japan.
Hurff's teammate, senior midfielder Alyssa Manley particpated with the U.S. senior national team this summer at the Pan-Am Games, scoring a goal in the semifinals on the way to the gold medal, and allowing the U.S. to qualify for the Olympics.
"When Janneke [Schopman], my U-21 coach called me I thought she was just calling to talk about the training we have this weekend," Hurff said. "Then she started to talk to me about how they have their series against Japan next week and how she was calling to see if I'd be available to participate in a game and I just froze, honestly, because being on the national team is my dream and now my top-goal since we achieved my first goal of being National Champions. I know I'm not on the national team or anything like that, but it makes me happy to think they'd even ask me.
"Being on the national team is a dream, and being at Syracuse with Ange as my coach is helping that dream become a reality everyday. She trained all my teammates and I and has turned us into the best team in the nation and into National Champions. Having a coach like her has made it possible to even be asked to participate in this game. This opportunity means the world to me."
Hurff, who wasn't subbed out of the midfield in any of the team's final-three games of the NCAA Tournament, playing all-but the two minutes she served a card in that span, is currently on the U.S. Under-21 roster.
Hurff and the U.S. squad will take on Japan on Dec. 4 in Lancaster Pa.
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Hurff's teammate, senior midfielder Alyssa Manley particpated with the U.S. senior national team this summer at the Pan-Am Games, scoring a goal in the semifinals on the way to the gold medal, and allowing the U.S. to qualify for the Olympics.
"When Janneke [Schopman], my U-21 coach called me I thought she was just calling to talk about the training we have this weekend," Hurff said. "Then she started to talk to me about how they have their series against Japan next week and how she was calling to see if I'd be available to participate in a game and I just froze, honestly, because being on the national team is my dream and now my top-goal since we achieved my first goal of being National Champions. I know I'm not on the national team or anything like that, but it makes me happy to think they'd even ask me.
"Being on the national team is a dream, and being at Syracuse with Ange as my coach is helping that dream become a reality everyday. She trained all my teammates and I and has turned us into the best team in the nation and into National Champions. Having a coach like her has made it possible to even be asked to participate in this game. This opportunity means the world to me."
Hurff, who wasn't subbed out of the midfield in any of the team's final-three games of the NCAA Tournament, playing all-but the two minutes she served a card in that span, is currently on the U.S. Under-21 roster.
Hurff and the U.S. squad will take on Japan on Dec. 4 in Lancaster Pa.
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Players Mentioned
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