Friday Night Field Hockey
Our first look into the new chapter of the USWNT as the United Eagles take on New Zealand tonight at 9pm ET
To say I’m excited to watch the USWNT United Eagles take on New Zealand in their first game of the FIH Pro League tonight is a massive understatement. I can’t wait. The game will give us our first glimpse into what’s been quietly brewing beneath the surface.
What does a new chapter for the team look like?
Earlier this week, USA Field Hockey revealed the new uniform design and name of the Men’s and Women’s National Programs.
Is the new kit a harbinger of a new playing ethos for the USA? Beyond the new threads, new name, new coach and new logo, what does the next chapter of USA Field Hockey look like as a playing style on the field? Will we be able to see a transformation in style since the team last competed in June?
The traveling roster named by David Passmore for this iteration of the FIH Pro League looks remarkably similar to the traveling roster named by former Coach Greg Drake in June of 2022. The most notable exception in Passmore’s roster is Erin Matson, the prolific collegiate hockey star who made headlines last month with her appointment as head coach at the University of North Carolina.
Matson’s absence is overshadowed by the addition of some exciting talents who will help pivot the team into the next chapter. These players include:
Meredith Sholder who was the midfield anchor to UNC’s historic college season (instagram account)
Olivia Bent-Cole who is one of the most dynamic and speedy players the USA has ever seen. The high school senior goes by the name OBC and will be an exciting competitor to watch emerge in the years to come (instagram account)
Josie Hollamon who is another exciting, young addition to the roster. Hollamon is a defender who distributes and disrupts with a swagger way beyond her years (instagram account)
Emma Deberdine the speedy sister of Brooke Deberdine who brings a simplicity and consistency to the midfield. Every generation of USWNT teams have had a sister duo - The Gannon’s, The Dawson’s, The Reinprecht’s, The Vitesse’s - to name a few.
Beyond the newcomers to the roster, what excites me the most is the continuity that this roster features from last year. It features a lot of familiar faces who have endured and grown through the challenges of the past few years. This team has both roots and wings.
The Biggest Questions on the Horizon
What will be the iconic features of the United Eagles playing style?
Will we notice a difference from year’s past?
Will we be able to retain possession for longer periods of time?
Where will goals come from?
How will we look defensively?
How will we respond to the pressure and adversity presented during matches? Will they be able to adjust and adapt in-game?
How will this team cope with the physical and mental fatigue of playing so many games in such a short period of time?
The answers will unfold over the coming days, weeks, and months. It’s bound to be an exciting new chapter. Be sure to follow along tonight.
Matches will be live streamed on Watch.Hockey, pay-per-view. The cost is $2.99 per month, not including taxes and fees. If there’s a month to subscribe, it’s this month.