By: Hockey Australia

Following their recent silver medal at the Samsung Hockey Champions Trophy tournament in Sydney, the Hockeyroos have turned their attention to the qualifying for next year’s World Cup.

Hockeyroos coach Frank Murray has announced his squad to compete against New Zealand and Samoa in a World Cup Qualifier event in Invercargill, New Zealand from August 24-29.

A travelling squad of 19 athletes has been selected, with the final team of 18 players to be announced on August 24. This decision has been made to ascertain the impact that the Women’s Junior World Cup campaign has on players  Casey Eastham, Emily Hurtz and Georgia Nanscawen who are currently competing at this tournament.

The travelling squad is extremely similar to the squad that competed at the Samsung Hockey Champions Trophy in July, with defender Heather Langham the only omission.

Veteran defender Kim Walker, who missed the Champions Trophy due to injury, returns to the Hockeyroos team while Victorian striker Claire Messent has also been named in the travelling squad.

Should the Hockeyroos be victorious at the World Cup Qualifier event, in which the Kookaburras will also be competing against New Zealand and Samoa at the same time, they will advance directly to the 2010 Women’s World Cup in Argentina from 30 August – 12 September.

The Hockeyroos squad remains quite young, with nine of the 19 players having only played 20 or less international matches.

VICTORIANS SELECTED

Stacia Joseph
Position: Defender
Age: 23
Caps: 9

Rachael Lynch
Position: Goalkeeper
Age: 23
Caps: 17

Claire Messent
Position: Striker
Age: 23
Caps: 8

Georgia Nanscawen
Position: Striker
Age: 17
Caps: 13

Sarah O'Connor
Position: Defender
Age: 24
Caps: 19