Clarke, Burnett Named to US Roster for Inaugural Hockey5s Pan American Cup
5/22/2023 2:33:00 PM | Field Hockey
COLORADO SPRING, Colo. -- University of Michigan senior Lora Clarke and incoming freshman Abby Burnett have been named to the U.S. Women's National Team roster for the inaugural Hockey5s Pan American Cups, USA Field Hockey announced last Friday (April 19).
The Hockey5s Pan American Cups (PAC) is slated for June 4-11 in Kingston, Jamaica, and will serve as the continental qualifier for the inaugural FIH Hockey5s World Cup set to be played in January 2024 in Muscat, Oman. The top three men's and women's teams at PAC qualifier will be eligible for the FIH Hockey5s World Cup.
The athletes chosen to participate in this 2024 Hockey5s World Cup qualifier -- the first ever to represent USWNT at the Hockey5s qualifier -- were selected after a training camp last week in Durham, N.C.
Clarke has appeared in 59 games over three seasons at Michigan, starting 48 at forward and midfield. She has 18 career goals and eight assists and led the Wolverines in scoring last season with a career-high 11 goals and 25 points.
Burnett, who will join the Wolverines this fall, is a veteran of the U.S. Women's National Indoor Team and a two-time first team High School All-American, according to both the NFHCA and Max Field Hockey. A three-time Pennsylvania all-state selection for Emmaus High School, she was named Max Field Hockey's 2022 Pennsylvania Region Player of the Year.
Originally created by the International Hockey Federation (FIH) for the 2014 Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing, China, Hockey5s is a fast small-sided game that uses specially designed boards that surround the perimeter of the field and keep the ball in play.
"Hockey5s is a fast, fun and free flowing game that challenges athletes to think creatively and respond dynamically to the situations presented on the field," said Rachel Dawson, women's Hockey5s head coach. "It requires constant problem-solving, alertness, robust physicality and precise execution. It was great to see the athletes embrace the new format with a sense of curiosity and desire to learn, innovate and compete."
