Columbia Coaches Freeman and Grant Help Lead Team New Jersey To USA Field Hockey HPC National Title

Women's National Championship Event Page

COLLEGE PARK, Md. – Columbia head field hockey coach Marybeth Freeman and assistant coach Katie Grant teamed up to lead Team New Jersey to victory on Friday in the USA Field Hockey High Performance Centers’ Women’s National Championship game in College Park, Md. Team New Jersey shut down Team Pennsylvania for a 4-0 win.

Freeman served as an assistant coach on the team and Grant played as a forward. The Columbia coaches were proud to help Team New Jersey win the national title for the fourth consecutive year.

”It was a commanding win today against the Pennsylvania team,” Freeman said. “Our squad capitalized on the opportunities in the front field and not allowing a penalty corner against us says volumes about our team defense. It was a great, well-organized and fun team to work with.”

The Women’s National Championship tournament, held June 1-8 at the University of Maryland in College Park, featured the nation’s elite field hockey players, including collegiate all-stars, current National Team members and members of the 2008 U.S. Olympic Women’s Field Hockey Team. The eight-day tournament featured eight teams playing in five matches, concluding with the finals on Friday, and served as showcase for Team USA head coach Lee Bodimeade to select the U.S. national team for this summer’s Olympic Games in London.

Both Freeman and Grant have been key contributors to USA Field Hockey over the years. Freeman has served as an assistant coach in the Women’s National Championship tournament for the past few years. Grant has continued to shine as a player as last March she was named to the 2012-13 USA Women’s National Indoor Field Hockey Team after her standout play in the largest indoor open tryout in history. She will represent the U.S. in the 2012 Pan Am Championships, which will be held Aug. 30-Sept.2 in Puerto Montt, Chile.