Women’s Eagles named for Can-Am Series

USA head coach Pete Steinberg has named a squad of 34 players to represent the Women’s Eagles in the two-match Can-Am Series against their northern neighbors. Hosted at the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, the games will take place on Tuesday, March 28, and Saturday, April 1. Apart from the local rivalry between the two nations, players taking part will be keenly aware that spots in the 2017 Women’s World Cup are on the line.

Seven of the squad are set to make their international XVs debuts. Olympic captain Kelly Griffin is joined by current sevens squad standouts Kristen Thomas and Bulou Mataitoga. Another newcomers include AnnaKaren Pedraza, Ashley Perry, Kristine Sommer, and 18-year-old Penn State star Kayla Canett.

Several of the Women’s Eagles Sevens squad will chance their arm at XVs under the familiar eye of coach Richie Walker, the sevens coach who will act as chief assistant to Steinberg. Ryan Carlyle, Joanne Fa’avesi, Nicole Heavirland, Kelsi Stockert, Nicole Strasko, Naya Tapper, and current HSBC Sevens Series captain Alev Kelter are all present.

Missing out due to injury are Cheta Emba, Hope Rogers, and Kate Zackary, while World Cup veterans Kate Daley and Kimber Rozier are unavailable. Four players – Abby Gustaitis, Rebekah Hebdon, Phaidra Knight, and Nicole Snyder – have been named as non-traveling reserves.

FORWARDS
Baylee Annis, Catie Benson, Sarah Chobot, Tiffany Faaee, Naima Reddick, Jamila Reinhardt, Katy Augustyn, Ryan Carlyle, Sam Pankey, Stacey Bridges, Jordan Gray, Molly Kinsella, Alycia Washington, Joanne Fa’avesi, Joanna Kitlinski, Christiane Pheil, Ashley Perry, Kristine Sommer, Nicole Strasko

BACKS
Alev Kelter, AnnaKaren Pedraza, Kayla Canett, Megan Foster, Hunter Griendling, Sylvia Braaten, Kelly Griffin, Sara Parsons, Nicole Heavirland, Kelsi Stockert, Naya Tapper, Kristen Thomas, Tess Feury, Bulou Mataitoga, Jessica Wooden

STAFF
Head Coach – Pete Steinberg
Assistant Coach – Richie Walker
Forwards Coach – Liz Kirk
Analysts – Caitlin Singletary & Jake Reed
Strength and Conditioning – Ian Gibbons
Manager – Roshna Wunderlich
Assistant Manager and Massage Therapist – Amie Kern
Physiotherapists – Sarah Leslie & Bri Arsenault
Physician – Michelle Look
High Performance Director – Adam Russell