Among Heather Schnepf’s goals upon joining the University of Iowa field hockey team was to use the experience as a way to make the U.S. National under-21 squad.

Mission accomplished.

Schnepf was among 18 players who made the U.S. traveling squad for the 2005 Junior World Championships in Chile this past September. Fifty to 75 players tried out.

“I was actually very surprised when I made the team,” Schnepf said.

Although thrilled to have made the team, Schnepf was hesitant to go at first because she would have to miss two weeks of competition with the Hawkeyes. Her teammates and coaches at Iowa actually helped talk her into going.

“They were very supportive and understanding,” Schnepf said. “They were just happy for me.”

It was that kind of support that convinced Schnepf to be a Hawkeye in the first place. She grew up in Medford Lakes, N.J., and had many options for college.

“I love the team, and the team is just like a family,” Schnepf said. “There’s just a lot of pride.”

Schnepf helped the U.S. team record its highest finish ever at the event, which was seventh among 16 teams.

“That in itself was an accomplishment,” she said.

One of the highlights came when the U.S. team tied the Neatherlands 1-1. The Neatherlands was ranked No. 1 in the world at the time.

— Pat Harty

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