Drexel University Athletics
Zelenak to Guide Three Dragons at the Women's National Championship
5/22/2013 4:15:00 PM | Field Hockey
Philadelphia – Denise Zelenak will lead the Pennsylvania Team at the 2013 Senior Women's National Championship Tournament on Thursday, May 23 through May 29 at the Powhatan Sports Complex on the campus of Old Dominion. Drexel's rising senior Lindsay McArdle and sophomore Danielle Grassi along with graduating senior Amanda Fleischut will play for Pennsylvania in Norfolk, Virginia. McArdle, Grassi and Fleischut are just three of 108 athletes that will not only compete for the regional championship title, but also a chance to earn a spot on the U.S. Women's National Team roster.
In 2012, Zelenak joined the Pennsylvania coaching staff after spending two years working with athletes at the New Jersey site. Last year, the Pennsylvania squad went undefeated before entering the championship final. In 2011, Zelenak helped the New Jersey Junior High Performance squad to victory at the Junior Women's National Championship. Zelenak also coached for the U.S. Men's East Coast Junior Team four years prior, and won the national championships at the U.S. training center in Chula Vista, California multiple times.
Fleischut and McArdle will play for the Pennsylvania team for the second straight year. Grassi will make her first appearance at the senior level. Fleischut also made her debut with the U.S. Women's National Field Hockey Team at the Four Nations tournament in New Zealand, which marked the first Drexel player to compete with the outdoor squad.
Fleischut and McArdle were also First Team All-CAA and All-Tournament Team honorees, while Grassi was named to the CAA All-Rookie team. Together, the Dragons captured the program's first Colonial Athletic Association Championship title and an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. Fleischut was named the CAA's Most Outstanding Performer. She finished her career eighth on Drexel's all-time points leaderboard with 70, sixth in career goals with 26 and tied for sixth with 18 assists. McArdle was second on this year's squad with 12 goals and 27 points. Grassi had a breakout season and finished with four points.
Come support the Dragons on May 23-29 at the Powhatan Sports Complex on the campus of Old Dominion in Norfolk, Virginia. Admission for all games is free. For updates and results, visit www.usafieldhockey.com. Also, for a complete schedule of the Women's National Championship, click here.
Tournament Schedule
May 23: 9:00 a.m. – New Jersey vs. Pennsylvania
2:00 p.m. – Mid Atlantic-South vs. New England- North
4:00 p.m. – Midwest-California vs. U21
May 24: 9:00 a.m. – Pennsylvania vs. Midwest-California
11:00 a.m. – New Jersey vs. Mid Atlantic-South
1:00 p.m. – U21 vs. New England-North
May 25: 4:00 p.m. – Midwest-California vs. New Jersey
6:00 p.m. – Pennsylvania vs. New England-North
8:00 p.m. – Mid Atlantic-South vs. U21
May 27: 9:00 a.m. – Pennsylvania vs. Mid Atlantic-South
11:00 a.m. – New England-North vs. Midwest-California
1:00 p.m. – New Jersey vs. U21
May 28: 9:00 a.m. – Pennsylvania vs. U21
11:00 a.m. – Mid Atlantic-South vs. Midwest-California
1:00 p.m. – New Jersey vs. New England-North
May 29: 9:00 a.m. – 5 vs. 6
11:00 a.m. – 3 vs. 4
1:00 p.m. – 1 vs. 2
In 2012, Zelenak joined the Pennsylvania coaching staff after spending two years working with athletes at the New Jersey site. Last year, the Pennsylvania squad went undefeated before entering the championship final. In 2011, Zelenak helped the New Jersey Junior High Performance squad to victory at the Junior Women's National Championship. Zelenak also coached for the U.S. Men's East Coast Junior Team four years prior, and won the national championships at the U.S. training center in Chula Vista, California multiple times.
Fleischut and McArdle will play for the Pennsylvania team for the second straight year. Grassi will make her first appearance at the senior level. Fleischut also made her debut with the U.S. Women's National Field Hockey Team at the Four Nations tournament in New Zealand, which marked the first Drexel player to compete with the outdoor squad.
Fleischut and McArdle were also First Team All-CAA and All-Tournament Team honorees, while Grassi was named to the CAA All-Rookie team. Together, the Dragons captured the program's first Colonial Athletic Association Championship title and an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. Fleischut was named the CAA's Most Outstanding Performer. She finished her career eighth on Drexel's all-time points leaderboard with 70, sixth in career goals with 26 and tied for sixth with 18 assists. McArdle was second on this year's squad with 12 goals and 27 points. Grassi had a breakout season and finished with four points.
Come support the Dragons on May 23-29 at the Powhatan Sports Complex on the campus of Old Dominion in Norfolk, Virginia. Admission for all games is free. For updates and results, visit www.usafieldhockey.com. Also, for a complete schedule of the Women's National Championship, click here.
Tournament Schedule
May 23: 9:00 a.m. – New Jersey vs. Pennsylvania
2:00 p.m. – Mid Atlantic-South vs. New England- North
4:00 p.m. – Midwest-California vs. U21
May 24: 9:00 a.m. – Pennsylvania vs. Midwest-California
11:00 a.m. – New Jersey vs. Mid Atlantic-South
1:00 p.m. – U21 vs. New England-North
May 25: 4:00 p.m. – Midwest-California vs. New Jersey
6:00 p.m. – Pennsylvania vs. New England-North
8:00 p.m. – Mid Atlantic-South vs. U21
May 27: 9:00 a.m. – Pennsylvania vs. Mid Atlantic-South
11:00 a.m. – New England-North vs. Midwest-California
1:00 p.m. – New Jersey vs. U21
May 28: 9:00 a.m. – Pennsylvania vs. U21
11:00 a.m. – Mid Atlantic-South vs. Midwest-California
1:00 p.m. – New Jersey vs. New England-North
May 29: 9:00 a.m. – 5 vs. 6
11:00 a.m. – 3 vs. 4
1:00 p.m. – 1 vs. 2
Tuesday, March 18
Thursday, September 22
Tuesday, February 18
Thursday, May 23