Three former Terrapin field hockey players – Lauren Powley, Dina Rizzo and Keli Smith – will be part of the U.S. Olympic Team for Women’s Field Hockey at the 2008 Olympic Games. All expect to have major roles on the team.

The Terps’ contribution of three players to the team is the second most of any school in the country. Only North Carolina, with six selections, had more.

“There is a lot of talent along the Eastern Seaboard, and we have a lot of players from that area,” head coach Lee Bodimeade said. “The whole ACC region is a very strong one, and it has produced some very good hockey players. We have a number of players from everywhere in the country, but it shows the strength of the program at Maryland.”

Although this will be the first Olympic appearance for the Terp trio, they are veterans of the U.S. National Team and have already made an impact during the Germany Four Nations series of exhibition games.

Smith started all three games the U.S. played in the series while Powley and Rizzo also made a couple starts and got into the rotation when they didn’t start.

Smith joined the team in 2001 and has steadily improved to become a starting forward, where she has taken on a leadership role.

“She is really starting to understand what it’s like to play like at the international level, and she’s playing a lot better now,” Bodimeade said. “She brings veteran experience at the international level. And she brings a lot of leadership to the group. We are very happy with what Keli is doing at the moment. Keli is a very creative player. She is very passionate about the game, and she’s very skillful.”

During the exhibitions, Smith showed her offensive prowess and scored a goal in the U.S.’s 5-3 loss to Korea.

“We play against the top teams in the world and to score a goal in those games is really rewarding but equally a lot of hard work,” Bodimeade said.

Rizzo is also a forward, and she provides depth in the team’s rotation. She has also been a motivator in the locker room.

“Dina brings a very passionate approach to the team and a great person to have around,” Bodimeade said. “When we aren’t playing, she is very motivational to the other players.”

While Smith and Rizzo are both at the forward position, Powley has strengthened the team’s midfield and made the position more of a strength than it had been in the past.

“She plays a very integral part in the strength of our midfield – it’s one of our key areas.”

The U.S. National Team placed in third in the exhibition series behind Germany and Korea, with a 0-2-1 record.

Powley, Rizzo, Smith and the rest of the Olympic team will square off against Argentina in their first game on Aug. 10.

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