Hoover, Umstead named to U.S. National Development Squad
Following three days of training at the 2018 United States Women’s National Team Trial held at Spooky Nook Sports in Lancaster, Pa., the USWNT coaching staff announced the 2018 U.S. Women’s National Development Squad on Friday afternoon.
Among the 21 selections were Methacton graduate Alexa Hoover (University of Pennsylvania) and Upper Perkiomen grad Casey Umstead (University of Connecticut), chosen among a pool of athletes from around the nation.
“It was hard to make the final selection for the Development Team but I am convinced the selected group is very competitive,” said USWNT head coach Janneke Schopman. “I am excited for themto get started and am looking forward to seeing the players’ growth in the next few months.”
With potential promising, the U.S. Women’s National Development Squad accounts for the transitional phase between the U-21 USWNT and the senior USWNT. Many of the trial attendees recently completed their final collegiate season and no longer are permitted to be on the junior team due to age restrictions.
While with the Quakers, Hoover became the first player in Penn history to earn four First Team All-Ivy honors all four years of her collegiate career. She finished as the alltime leader in program history in goals (68) and points (163), which was also good enough for fourth all-time in Ivy League history. She started all 67 of her collegiate games at forward.
A two-time All-American
and four-time All-Region selection, Hoover was the 2014 Ivy League Rookie of the Year and an ECAC All-Star during her storied career. This past season, she earned a selection to the 2017 National Field Hockey Coaches’ Association (NFHCA) Senior AllStar Game.
While with Methacton, Hoover was a threetime All-Area First Team selection and was voted the Warriors’ Offensive MVP three times. She was named to the Pennsylvania High School Field
Hockey Coaches Association (PHSFHCA) All-State First Teamher senior year, after she led her team to the Pioneer Athletic Conference Championship game.
A defender with the Huskies, Umstead started in every game each of the past three seasons with UConn. She was named to the All-Big East First Team last season and was also selected as a 2016 Third Team All-American.
While with Upper Perk, Umstead was named the Mercury’s All-Area Player of the Year in 2013. That season, she scored a teambest 51 goals and added 17 assists before being named to the PHSFHCA
All-State First Team. She registered a combined 64 goals and 28 assists during her sophomore and junior seasons before being selected as a member of the 2012-2013 USA Field Hockey Jr. Women’s U-19 National Indoor Team. She also played for the U-19 National Team.
This year’s USWNT Development Squad has a busy beginning part of the year. This includes four training camps, either in Pennsylvania or Virginia, as they prepare for a tour to Chile from May 15-24. Following that trip, athletes will be reevaluated and, if ready, called up to the senior teamstarting in September.