Princeton University Athletics
Meerschwam Takes Game To Higher Level With Women's U.S. National Field Hockey Team
January 09, 2001 | Field Hockey
Jan. 9, 2001
PRINCETON, N.J. - Melanie Meerschwam will represent the United States as one of the newest members of the 2001 U.S. Women's National Team.
Coined as U.S. Field Hockey's premier women's squad, the U.S. National Team represents the United States at top international events including the Olympic Games, Pan American Games and World Cup. Selections for the team were made on January 8th. The team consists of 18 women and is scheduled to be coached by coached by Tracey Belbin.
Meerschwam finished her career at Princeton this year as the program's fifth all-time leading scorer with 89 points on 35 goals and 19 assists. She was a first-team All-America and Regional All-America selection, as well as first-team All-Ivy and ECAC. In her final season as a Tiger Meerschwam registered 9 goals and 11 assists enroute to 29 points (second on the team). Meerschwam is only the second Princeton team member to have played for the U.S. National Team. The only other player to have done so was Martha Russo '85. Sophomores Ilvy Friebe and Kelly Baril along with freshman Claire Miller made the 2001 U.S. Women's Under-21 Team. The basis for the U-21 team is to provide athletes with additional training, support and international experience. In addition to international tours and tournaments, the team represents the United States at the top international junior events such as the Junior Pan American Games and the Junior World Cup.
Friebe scored five goals and registered three assists for the Tigers this season and owns 16 goals and seven assists during her two years at the collegiate level. Friebe was selected to the Regional All-America second-team and earned second-team All-Ivy honors. Miller, the Ivy League Rookie of the Year, started her collegiate playing career on a solid note at Princeton, scoring nine goals. Second-team All-America and first-team Regional All-America selection, Kelly Baril, will represent the U.S. in goal after finishing the season with seven shutouts, an .829 save percentage and a 1.12 goals against average. Baril was also selected as a member of the first-team All-Ivy.