VIRGINIA BEACH, VA -- Katie Evans, who closed out an outstanding career with the University of Delaware field hockey squad this past fall, has been selected to the 2007-08 United States Field Hockey squad.

A native of Newtown Square, PA (Villa Maria Academy), Evans (at right) was named to the team following a week of play at the USA National Championships. The selections of the squad come as the USA women prepare for next month’s Pan American Games and their first opportunity to qualify for the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. The Pan American Games will be played July 15-29 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Evans was named to the nine-member developmental squad. Developmental athletes can be called up for training sessions or other competition opportunities with the National Squad. Evans was selected to the team following a week of play at the USA National Championships where she competed on the Pennsylvania/New Jersey team, coached by Princeton head coach Kristen Holmes Winn, which won the tournament. Evans scored two goals in the tournament.

A member of the 2005 U.S. Junior National World Cup team that competed in Chile, Evans was a four-year standout at Delaware for head coach Carol Miller, helping the Blue Hens win the 2004 Colonial Athletic Association title and an NCAA Tournament berth. She appeared in 74 career games with 68 starts and scored 51 points on 21 goals and 30 assists. She ranks No. 2 all-time at Delaware with 30 assists. This past season, she ranked third on the team in scoring with six goals and seven assists. She earned second team All-CAA and second team All-Mid Atlantic Region honors in both 2003 and 2005. Evans earned her degree in apparel design and fashion merchandising major from Delaware last month.

The U.S. National Team, led by head coach Lee Bodimeade, includes Kate Barber (North Carolina), Kayla Bashore (Indiana), Lauren Crandall (Wake Forest), Rachel Dawson (North Carolina), Sarah Dawson (Iowa), Jill Dedman (Boston College), Kelly Doton (Wake Forest), Katelyn Falgowski (St. Mark’s HS/Landenberg, PA/North Carolina), April Fronzini (Michigan), Michelle Kasold (Wake Forest), Claire Laubach (Wake Forest), Melissa Leonetti (Old Dominion), Carrie Lingo (Cape Henlopen HS/Lewes, DE/North Carolina), Angie Loy (Old Dominion), Natalie Martarosian (Princeton), Caroline Nichols (Old Dominion), Katie O’Donnell (Wissahickon HS/Blue Bell, PA), Lauren Powley (Maryland), Dina Rizzo (Maryland), Dana Sensenig (Old Dominion), Sara Silvetti (Maryland), Keli Smith (Maryland), Tiffany Snow (Old Dominion), Amy Tran (North Carolina), and Barbara Weinberg (Iowa).

Joining Evans on the Developmental Squad are Vianney Campos (Pacific), Maren Ford (Princeton), Jesse Gey (North Carolina), Jessica Javelet (Louisville), Christina Kirkaldy (Michigan State), Mia Link (Virginia), Katie Reinprecht (Mt. St. Joseph’s Academy/North Wales, PA), and Laura Suchoski (Duke).

The winner of the Pan Am Games earns the continent’s automatic berth in the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. In addition, teams placing 2-6 in the women’s tournament will earn spots in one of three Olympic Qualifying Tournaments in early 2008. The winners of the three qualifying tournaments will earn the final three berths in the 2008 Olympic Games.

Following the Pan Am Games, the USA will continue international competition in October when the team hosts Japan in a five game series, Oct. 7-13 at the University of Maryland. Japan edged the USA for fifth place in a 1-0 classification match at the 2006 World Cup and has already qualified for the 2008 Olympic Games.