Dykema Named to U.S. Women’s National Team
11/28/2023 4:18:00 PM | Field Hockey
LYNCHBURG, Va. – Liberty's Bethany Dykema has been named to the U.S. Women's National Team for the upcoming series against New Zealand.
Dykema is the first player in program history to be selected to Team USA.
Dykema and the U.S. Women's National Team will play a two-match series against New Zealand in Charlotte, N.C. on Dec. 9 and 10. The two-match series will serve as preparation for the FIH Olympic Qualifier in January.
After a strong performance at the 2023 Senior Nexus Championship in July, Dykema was invited to train with the U.S. Women's National Team in early August and has now joined the centralized group.
"Bethany Dykema really impressed us at the Senior Nexus Championship last summer, did well when she came into the squad for a week in August and adds physicality and pace to our defensive line," said U.S. Women's National Team Head Coach David Passmore. "It will be interesting to see how she copes with the pace and intensity of international hockey, but I believe she has many of the qualities which will stand her in good stead."
For each game day, a roster of 18 athletes will be selected to compete. The squads for the FIH Hockey Olympic Qualifier and FIH Pro Hockey League in Bhubeneswar and Rourkela, India will be named the week after these matches conclude. The FIH Hockey Olympic Qualifier will be held Jan. 13-19, 2024 in Ranchi, India.
Dykema wrapped up her five-year Liberty career this fall. Her list of accomplishments include:
Saturday, Dec. 9 | 2 p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 10 | 2 p.m.
USA and New Zealand will meet again in January as they both sit in Pool B of the FIH Hockey Olympic Qualifier. Both matches on Dec. 9 and 10 are free and open to the public and will be live streamed by HomeTeam Sports. For more information regarding the 2023 USWNT vs. New Zealand Series, visit the event page.
Dykema is the first player in program history to be selected to Team USA.
Dykema and the U.S. Women's National Team will play a two-match series against New Zealand in Charlotte, N.C. on Dec. 9 and 10. The two-match series will serve as preparation for the FIH Olympic Qualifier in January.
After a strong performance at the 2023 Senior Nexus Championship in July, Dykema was invited to train with the U.S. Women's National Team in early August and has now joined the centralized group.
"Bethany Dykema really impressed us at the Senior Nexus Championship last summer, did well when she came into the squad for a week in August and adds physicality and pace to our defensive line," said U.S. Women's National Team Head Coach David Passmore. "It will be interesting to see how she copes with the pace and intensity of international hockey, but I believe she has many of the qualities which will stand her in good stead."
For each game day, a roster of 18 athletes will be selected to compete. The squads for the FIH Hockey Olympic Qualifier and FIH Pro Hockey League in Bhubeneswar and Rourkela, India will be named the week after these matches conclude. The FIH Hockey Olympic Qualifier will be held Jan. 13-19, 2024 in Ranchi, India.
Dykema wrapped up her five-year Liberty career this fall. Her list of accomplishments include:
- NFHCA All-America second team (2022)
- Three-time NFHCA All-South Region (first team 2021 and 2022, second team 2020)
- Four-time All-BIG EAST team (first team 2021, 2022 and 2023, second team 2020)
- Two-time BIG EAST champion, three-time BIG EAST regular season champion, NCAA Field Hockey Championship title game qualifier
- Three-time VaSID All-State team (first team 2021 and 2022, second team 2020)
- Three-time BIG EAST All-Tournament team (2021-23)
- BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Week (2020)
- BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Week (2023)
- Program's all-time leader in career assists (47) and games played (97)
- Tallied a career-best 13 assists in 2023, ranks sixth in program history for career points (101) and 10th in career goals (27)
Saturday, Dec. 9 | 2 p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 10 | 2 p.m.
USA and New Zealand will meet again in January as they both sit in Pool B of the FIH Hockey Olympic Qualifier. Both matches on Dec. 9 and 10 are free and open to the public and will be live streamed by HomeTeam Sports. For more information regarding the 2023 USWNT vs. New Zealand Series, visit the event page.
???????? ?????? ????@bethanydykema has been selected for the USWNT and will compete against New Zealand in a two-match series Dec. 9-10 in Charlotte!
— Liberty Field Hockey (@LibertyFH) November 28, 2023
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