Wake Forest Athletics
Rhea Named to National Development Squad
6/13/2012 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
June 13, 2012
By Currie McFayden, WakeForestSports.com (@SIDeacons)
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - Rising junior Taylor Rhea has been named to the 2012 U.S. National Field Hockey Development Squad as announced by Coach Lee Bodimeade this past weekend.
Rhea, a versatile player capable of playing as a forward or a midfielder, joins four other current and former ACC players on the squad. Marta Malmberg, Caitlin Van Sickle and Meghan Dawson of North Carolina and Jill Witmer of Maryland were also recipients of the honor.
The Virginia Beach, Va., native has appeared in 38 contests for Wake Forest over the last two seasons and has been a steady fixture in the lineup, racking up 23 starts over that same span. Rhea made an immediate impact for the Deacs in just her second collegiate match, scoring a pair of goals in a 5-1 victory over Michigan on Aug. 29, 2010. Since then, she has logged five more scores and two assists and has become a key player for the Deacons.
The Development Squad is not Rhea's first experience with a national team. She has also been a member of the U-16 and U-19 national squads and picked up a spot on the NFHCA High School All-American First Team as a senior at Frank W. Cox in 2009, when she was also named Virginia's State Player of the Year.
As a member of the Development Squad, Rhea will be eligible to tour with the national team following the 2012 Olympic Games in London this summer.
