caption: NATIONAL ACCLAIM: Maddie Copeland shoots the ball in action at a USA field hockey camp this summer. Copeland, who starred the past two seasons for Stuart Country Day School field hockey team, was recently chosen to play for the U.S. U-17 national squad. The high-scoring forward, who is transferring to Peddie this fall, will be in action for the U.S. next spring when the team travels to the Netherlands.

Starting Field Hockey Career With Stuart, Copeland Makes U.S. U-17 National Team

Bill Alden

For Maddie Copeland, it was not love at first sight when she took up field hockey in middle school.

“I started playing in seventh grade when I came to Stuart [Country Day]; I didn’t really like it at first,” recalled Copeland. “My parents had told me I should try it.”

By the time Copeland moved up to Stuart’s upper school varsity team as a freshman, she was fully committed to field hockey.

“I started Futures in freshman year which is one of the great USA field hockey programs where they try to help you get better,” said Copeland, who started playing year-round with the Jersey Intensity club team in eighth grade.

“I felt comfortable going into my freshman year at Stuart. The team was welcoming; I really felt part of the team.”

The prolific forward Copeland displayed her comfort level in her debut season, helping the Tartans make the Prep A semifinals and the Mercer County Tournament title game in the fall of 2008.

Earlier this summer, Copeland became a part of another special team as she was selected to play for the U.S. U-17 national team.

In making the squad, Copeland survived an arduous selection process that included a tournament in Virginia Beach and a four-day camp in Maryland.

To prepare herself for the stiff competition, Copeland fine-tuned her game with Jackie Gaudioso-Radvany, a former Stuart teammate and current star for NCAA champion North Carolina.

“I am a forward and I worked hard on my shot with Jackie and some other friends,” said Copeland. “I was working on placing my shots and shooting off balance.”

Despite the extra work she put in, Copeland knew that making the U.S. team was going to be a major challenge.

“They invited 30 girls to the camp in Maryland,” said Copeland. “I thought I played well but you are going up against some of the best girls in the country and you are not sure where you stand.”

Copeland found out that she had made the squad five days after the camp, news that triggered deep emotion as she hopes to eventually reach the top level of U.S. field hockey.

“I cried; I was so happy,” recalled Copeland. “I would like to make the U.S. national team; that would be wonderful.”

Next spring, Copeland figures to have a wonderful trip as the U-17 team heads to the Netherlands for a tour in the spring of 2011.

“We will be playing against a high level of competition,” said Copeland, who has previously faced overseas competition in touring Argentina with the Jersey Intensity.

“The U.S. has a great team and some of the other countries have even better teams. It will be a great experience.”

While Copeland has transferred to Peddie this fall for her junior season and plans to complete her high school career there, she credits her experience with Stuart as laying the groundwork for her climb up the field hockey ladder.

“It was great, playing with Jackie and playing for coach Katie Grant,” said Copeland, who could follow in Grant’s footsteps as she is considering her coach’s alma mater, Duke, as well as Princeton University for college.

“I also learned a lot from Missy Bruvik. The coaches and the players were all great.”

And now Copeland is poised to do some great things on the national stage.

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