Sept. 11, 2008

Garden City, N.Y. - Lindsay Williams, a sophomore midfielder on the Adelphi University field hockey team, has been selected to compete for the Trinidad & Tobago Under-21 National Team at the 2008 Junior Pan-American Games in Mexico City, Mexico, October 5-12.

Williams tried out for the team during the summer break and got the call last week that she was going to represent her country. "I am very excited about the opportunity to play for my national team." Trinidad will take on Chile in the first round.

A native of Port of Spain in Trinidad, Williams has been around field hockey her whole life as her father played on the men's team. "I actually didn't like [field hockey] at first," Williams added. "I was surrounded by it with my Dad and now he will be flying to Mexico City to see me play."

In fact, she didn't pick up a stick until she was 15, but quickly excelled in the sport and was recruited to play at Bloomsburg University. A year later, it was a referral from a friend and player at Hofstra that got her connected with Adelphi. Her sister, Arielle, also plays field hockey for Hofstra University.

Arielle passed on the chance to try out for the national team as the two-week commitment would take its toll on her studies. But for Williams, a communications major with a concentration on image art production, she found support from her professors. "Most have been very supportive and with some of the classes cancelled due to [Jewish] holidays, I actually won't miss too much," she added.

Williams will miss three games with the Panthers, but her teammates and coach are all very excited for her. "Lindsay is an outstanding student athlete and we would never hold her back from such a wonderful opportunity," said Head Coach Gloria M. O'Connor. "It's a great honor for Lindsay and her country and I know she will bring back great stories and experiences and will also spread the word about Adelphi."

There is a lot at stake for the team and their goals are high. "We want to finish in the top three," Williams said. The top three qualifiers from the Pan-Am Games advance to the 2009 Junior World Cup, which will be held in Boston. Even if the team does advance, this Pan-Am Games will be her only trip with the U-21 squad. "I will be over 21 next year, but I have also been selected to the training squad for the senior team." Sounds like this won't be the last we have heard of Williams on the international scene.