Some of the best field hockey players on the planet will be in action in Charlottesville Monday night, as the United States National team hosts Argentina in a tune up for the Olympics on the blue turf at UVA.
Argentina is the #2 ranked team in the world, but the U.S. did knock them off in the gold medal match of the Pan Am games last summer, which sets up an international grudge match in Charlottesville Monday night.
UVA field hockey head coach Michele Madison says, "If you've never seen field hockey, this is the time to do it. And if you have seen field hockey, and you're field hockey fans, there's no doubt. For Paige (Selenski) and Michelle (Vittese) to also be on the team, that's just the cherry on top."
The Cavalier duo of Paige Selenski and Michelle Vittese have played a big role in the national team's success.
US national team head coach Lee Bodimeade says, "They've adapted to international hockey very well. Obviously Michelle being our international player of the year, and Paige becoming one of the most feared strikers around the world."
Selenski and Vittese made the decision to take a year off from school to train with the national team, and that decision has paid off with a trip to the Olympics.
"If you have a chance to be an Olympian, you have to put 100% into that," says Madison.
Vittese says, "It's exciting, and really hard to explain, especially to someone who has never been to an Olympic games, or understood what it's about, really. I think it won't sink in until you step out of the field for the first time."
Once the Olympics are over, they'll be right back on the field at Virginia, and ready to unleash international skills on the college competition.
Selenski says,. "I think we're going to be in a good position, because we're going to be really fit, and our skills are going to be right on top, after playing the best teams in the world. We're really excited about that, and looking forward to bringing our skills to UVA."
Monday's game with Argentina starts at eight o'clock at UVA, and admission is free.
The field hockey portion of the Olympic games begins July 29th in London, and can be seen on NBC 29.
