SURREY, B.C. --- The USA Women’s Elite team completed day one of practice on Thursday, June 30 in preparation for the July 2-10 Canada Cup in Surrey, B.C. A mixture of old and new faces, the 16-member roster arrived in Canada on Wednesday ready to represent the Red, White and Blue. Led by head coach Carol Hutchins (Ann Arbor, Mich./head coach University of Michigan) who is making her Team USA coaching debut, the U.S. opens pool play on Saturday, July 2 at 4 p.m. against the Carbondale Cougars.
“We have a great group of kids here along with a tremendous staff,” said Hutchins. “I love the attitude of this group and they have been wonderful to work with. We only have a few days here to prepare and the team is adapting but we will be ready to play.”
Coming off a national championship title with the University of Michigan, Women’s College World Series Most Valuable Player Samantha Findlay (Lockport, Ill.) is also suiting up for the U.S. for the first time.
“This is so incredible and such an honor,” Findlay smiled. “It is just amazing to be able to put on the uniform. I have always wanted to represent my country and now I am getting the opportunity. We have a fun group of girls who are getting to know each other. We are all very excited.”
Eight new players (Eldredge, Findlay, Forest, Haas, Merchant, Nichols, Ritter, Schutzler) will be in the USA uniform for the elite team, while nine U.S. colleges and seven conferences are represented. The players ages range from 19 to 25 and seven players still have college eligibility. Selected after a 45-person try-out camp June 13-17, the Elite team roster was announced on June 20.
Jay Miller (Starkville, Miss./ head coach Mississippi State), Brian Kolze (Linden, Calif./ head coach University of Pacific), and Karen Sanchelli-Johns (Gainesville, Fla./ head coach University of Virginia) complete the coaching staff for the U.S. Elite at the Canada Cup.
Click here for a complete schedule and roster
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