Four days of intense trainings and practice sessions recently stood between University of Delaware rising senior Taylor Lister and a final spot on the 2017 U.S. women's national field hockey team development squad.

Selections to the Under-21 junior and development squad national camp came from the USA Field Hockey Young Women's National Championship, which featured more than 130 of the most elite female collegiate and post-collegiate athletes from around the country.

“I have thoroughly enjoyed playing with a different dynamic of players and coaches the past few weeks, most of whom have been my opponents the past three seasons,” Lister said. “The friendships and relationships that have evolved through this process have been priceless.”

Lister added, “Playing with some of the best field hockey players in the country has challenged me to develop and grow even more as a player – on and off the field. I look forward to bringing back the knowledge, leadership and energy that I have gained through this experience to my teammates at the University of Delaware.”

To account for the transitional phase from the U-21 national team to the senior team, the development squad was introduced in November 2016 to nurture the talent of college student-athletes who are no longer permitted to be on the junior team due to age restrictions.

"Self-driven, passionate to learn and share, and committed to become the best player and teammate she can be are phrases that describe Taylor very well," said UD head coach Rolf van de Kerkhof,  who will begin his seventh season at the helm of the national champion Blue Hens this fall. “We talk within our program about 'dream big' and Taylor is putting the work in toward her dream of representing the United States of America as a member of the national team one day. The journey is demanding and not always easy, but the positive growth and new friendships make it all worthwhile. We are excited for her to have lots of quality USA Field Hockey development opportunities coming her way in July, and that is something that will help Taylor and the Blue Hens this fall.”

A Longstreth/National Field Hockey Coaches Association regional first team All-American, Lister also was named first team All-Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) and to the NCAA and CAA All-Tournament teams. She finished the year with 21 points on 11 assists and five goals. 

Lister and the Blue Hens picked up the program's first national championship while completing the year with a 19-game winning streak and an overall record of 23-2.