University of Massachusets Athletics
Gonzalez, Widdall Make U.S. Pan Am Games Roster
June 26, 2015 | Field Hockey
University of Massachusetts field hockey volunteer coach Melissa Gonzalez and former all-American goalkeeper Alesha Widdall earned spots on the United States National Team for the 2015 Pan American Games, as announced by U.S. head coach Craig Parnham Friday. The event, hosted in Toronto, Ontario, from July 13-25, serves as a qualification tournament for the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.
The duo represents two of 16 athletes chosen as part of the United States' international roster, including a pair of alternates. Team USA is part of Pool B alongside Chile, Uruguay and Cuba. Pool A comprises Argentina, Canada, Mexico and the Dominican Republic.
Gonzalez mentors current Minutewomen alongside UMass field hockey head coach Carla Tagliente and assistants Shannon Taylor and Sarah Mansfield during the collegiate season in addition to her year-long training regiment with the United States National Program. Widdall competed for UMass from 2008-11 as a four-year starting goalkeeper. She finished with 47 collegiate victories, including 25 shutouts, and had a career 1.40 goals-against average with a .774 save percentage.
United States Pan American Games Roster
Jackie Briggs (Robesonia, Pa.), Lauren Crandall (Doylestown, Pa.), Rachel Dawson (Berlin, N.J.), Julia Reinprecht (Perkasie, Pa.), Stefanie Fee (Virginia Beach, Va.), Katelyn Falgowski (Landenberg, Pa.), Michelle Kasold (Chapel Hill, N.C.), Alyssa Manley (Litiz, Pa.), Kelsey Kolojejchick (Larksville, Pa.), Melissa Gonzalez (Mohegan Lake, N.Y.), Michelle Vittese (Cherry Hill, N.J.), Katie Reinprecht (Perkasie, Pa.),Katie O'Donnell (Blue Bell, Pa.), Jill Witmer (Lancaster, Pa.), Kat Sharkey (Moosic, Pa.), Paige Selenski (Shavertown, Pa.), (P) Emily Wold (Freehold, N.J.) and (P) Alesha Widdall (Whitney Point, N.Y.)