U-21 National Team Terps bring talent and leadership to Maryland field hockey

Maryland field hockey’s season might be over, but another tournament is on the horizon for three of its players.

Hope Rose, Rayne Wright and Josie Hollamon are all members of Team USA’s U-21 National Team, which will be competing in the FIH Women’s Junior World Cup in December.

Rose and Hollamon both got started with Team USA at the U-16 level, competing in training camps and tournaments across the country alongside the best players in the age group.

Wright’s national team career started on a different field. Her club coaches also coached the indoor national team, so following them made it easier for Wright to try out. It was only in the past year that Wright joined Rose and Hollamon on the outdoor squad.

The differences between collegiate and international hockey are clear to Maryland coach Missy Meharg and the three U-21 Terps on her team.

Rose, Wright and Hollamon all say international teams play faster than teams at the NCAA level. The fundamentals are strong and different kinds of passes the top international teams can perform are “next level,” according to Meharg.

“You’re not seeing that variety at all in the NCAA,” Meharg said.

Another difference between Team USA and international teams is that the Americans can’t practice together year-round. The American U-21 roster is scattered across the country during the NCAA field hockey season in the fall. 

But that isn’t an issue for the trio of Terps on the U-21 team, who are around each other daily.

“I think being able to play at both Maryland and USA together, kind of growing at the same time and having to make adjustments has really made us closer,” Hollamon said about Rose.

That extra time also helped Hollamon in making the jump from high school to college hockey. It helped her adjust to tougher competition while also allowing her to build chemistry with her Maryland teammates.

“I know I probably made it easier for [Josie] coming in, at least knowing somebody because she came in a semester early,” Rose said. “We kind of know what each other’s thinking and just building that connection.”

Wright said she’s played with Rose for nearly eight years, which has allowed their connection to strengthen.

“Away from the USA stuff, I know her tendencies and know what kind of things she likes to do,” Wright said. “It’s just nice because we can give pretty straight up feedback and that makes each other better.”

Rose and Hollamon aren’t the only Team USA players Wright has played with. Maryland’s roster last season featured three members of the Senior National Team — Rose, Emma DeBerdine and Leah Crouse. Senior national team member Brooke DeBerdine played alongside Wright in 2020 and 2021.

Being around some of the top players in the country helped Wright prepare for her time as a team captain at Maryland by allowing her to see different leadership styles in action. She leans on what she learned from her former teammates during tough matches

“They were here with me in college. They went and did their thing at [Team] USA,” Wright said. “I’m going to take that and try to push myself to be the best because it pays off after a while.”

There’s a quick turnaround between the end of the NCAA postseason and the Women’s Junior World Cup. Only two and a half weeks separate Maryland’s final postseason game and Team USA’s first group play match against Japan.

Regardless, the College Park connection will be clear in Chile.

“It’s like sisters who come and play together,” Meharg said. “But I’m pretty sure that their skill sets and the nature of how many times these guys in our backfield stack the ball around together, it’s definitely going to showcase.”