Campbell retires from U.S. national team
Boyertown grad ends USWNT career after four years, 31 caps
For the past four years, Gilbertsville native Ali (McEvoy) Campbell has lived the dream.
Now it’s time to chase other dreams.
After spending the past four years as a member of the United States Women’s National Field Hockey Team, Campbell retired from the senior squad on June 22 after 31 international caps representing Team USA.
“I would never trade the past four years for anything ever. It’s been so rewarding,” Campbell said. “I’ve been in the system for four years and it takes a toll on you. I talked to the coaches, my mom and dad, and I just felt it was time to move on. I’m in a different stage of my life than I was four years ago and I think it’s just time to go on and enjoy life and take my dream in a different way.”
The Boyertown graduate capped her playing career on her own terms, incredibly never missing a practice in her four years with the national team after overcoming two ACL tears earlier in her playing career.
“I would never trade the past four years for anything ever. It’s been so rewarding ... I’m in a different stage of my life than I was four years ago and I think it’s just time to go on and enjoy life and take my dream in a different way.” – Ali (McEvoy) Campbell upon retiring from the U.S. Women’s National Field Hockey Team
“I’ve always prided myself on really making sure I take care of my body and do what’s needed so I can be on the field everyday. I think that diligence and discipline really helped me to be able to be on the field everyday,” Campbell said. “I’ve been super diligent because I don’t ever want (those injuries) to happen again.
“When I got hurt, I felt it was an opportunity to really stick to the mindset, ‘now or never.’ I could choose to come back from my setbacks, or I could just move on. I think that is what has given me the work ethic and passion that I have today. I always play with a now-or-never attitude because you never know what could come in the next play or moment. It also gave me a chance to really get to the dark places and know that I can keep pushing and keep going, because I might not have this opportunity, so I better give it all I have to get the best out of myself.”
That strong mentality and determination made Campbell a fixture on defense for the USWNT after previously being on the U-16, U-19 and U-21 teams. She joined the senior national team in 2013 after concluding her University of Maryland career where she won two Division I national championships and was a NFHCA All-America First Team selection and ACC Defensive Player of the Year as a senior.
“From the moment, I joined the USWNT staff 3 years ago, Ali was a player keen to learn and improve herself,” said USWNT head coach Janneke Schopman. “Her willingness to go beyond was remarkable, always working hard in training but also putting in the hours to watch video and taking care of her body. Many young athletes can take an example in how she approached her sport, never leaving anything to chance.”
Campbell first entered the USWNT’s Olympic Development Pipeline in 2006 when she was named to the U.S. U-16 Women’s National Team. That preceded time on both the U.S. U-19 and U-21 Women’s National Teams, where she participated and won bronze at the women’s Junior Pan American World Cup Qualifier in 2012, clinching a bid to the 2013 women’s Junior World Cup. She was also a member of the U.S. Women’s National Indoor Team for five years and participated in an Indoor Pan American Games in Argentina.
Campbell resides in Lancaster, Pa., with her husband Eric. She will remain around U.S. field hockey – she took the position of technical director at Spooky Nook, the home of the U.S. national team, a year ago and works with youth players and teams.
Coaching at the college level looks to be in her future, though not immediately as she gets acclimated to a life that doesn’t include working to stay in elite, competition-ready condition.
“I’ve gotten some calls from college coaches to potentially coach, but I think I just need some transition time. What I ultimately want to do is college coaching, but right now I feel like I need a chance to transition to live, enjoy my newer years of being married and maybe be a little normal because I have no idea what that’s like,” Campbell joked.
The daughter of James and Cindy McEvoy, Campbell was a four-year starter at Boyertown and was a Mercury All-Area and AllState selection during her time with the Bears. She played for X-Calibur at the club level.
“My mom was the one who got me into hockey,” said Campbell. “She played, and her and my dad found a league at Perkiomen Valley for me to begin playing. Hockey is a unique sport, and I love the skill and speed needed to play. I love that women and men can play, and that it can be played indoors and outdoors.”
There will be countless fond memories from her time with the national team, but none will trump the feeling of the playing of the national anthem ahead of her first international cap against Great Britain in Chula Vista, Calif., in Feb. 2014.
“Not everyone gets to experience it, but once you’re in that position of representing your country, it was unbelievable,” Campbell said. “When you go to other countries you also see how special the anthem is to every country and every team. My first cap, it was in California, and to be able to sing the anthem on my first cap in the United States, that was something I’ll never forget. You can never remake that. It was so special, I was literally in tears.”
Campbell’s presence will be missed by the team, too.
“As a player, she was very skillful with a great pass over short and long distance, her positive mindset and engagement in training sessions I’ll definitely miss,” said Schopman. “Moving toward a new career, I want to wish her all the best and thank her for her hard work in the USWNT the past years.”