US Wins Pan Am Gold and Qualifies for 2012 Olympics

October 29, 2011 | Field Hockey

By: Princeton Athletic Communications

The U.S. National Field Hockey Team, which includes three Princeton field hockey players, defeated Argentina 4-2 Friday night in the gold medal game at Pan Am Games in Guadalajara, Mexico. The USA never trailed in the win, which gives it a berth in the 2012 Olympic Games in London.

The American roster features Princetonians Katie Reinprecht, Julia Reinprecht and Michelle Cesan. All three has significant minutes in the tournament with Katie Reinprecht and Cesan scoring goals during the two week long event.

The U.S. entered the tournament ranked 13th in the world and defeated the top-ranked Argentines. The game was the fifth straight Pan Am final between the U.S. and Argentina. Argentina won the first four. The U.S. will make its first Olympic appearance since 1996 and its third in the past 50 years next summer in London.