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Carla Tagliente

Carla Tagliente has become a key member of the US National Team. She has played 50 games for the USA, and is finding her rhythm as an attacking midfielder. In 1997 she was selected as USFHA player of the year, and she earned three All-American honours during her stellar career at the University of Maryland.

On Sunday the US team left for the Champions Challenge in South Africa, still uncertain of what they need to do to qualify for the 2002 World Cup. PlanetFieldHockey talked to Tagliente just before the team left.


Andrew Griffiths: What's your favourite food for breakfast?
Carla Tagliente: Blueberry Morning cereal with plain soy milk.

AG: Who do you think will be your toughest competition at the Champions Challenge?
CT: I think overall the competition will be very good for us. We had a chance to play South Africa back in October. We didn't really get the outcomes that we wanted from those games, but I think we learned and improved from them. England and Korea will be good matches as well.

AG: When was the last international game you played? Against whom?
CT: The last international games I played were the South Africa games in October in the US.

AG: What are the training conditions like at the new US training center in Virginia Beach?
CT: The new training center is really nice. We have a beautiful field with a great watering system. The whole community here is very supportive of the team. I think it's a good place for us to be at the moment.

AG: How difficult was it to deal with the situation with the team regarding
missing the World Cup Qualifying tournament in France?
CT: The events of Sept 11 were very hard on everybody. Everyone on the team had decided they wanted to go despite what was going on. Not that any sporting event could make things better, but at the time it felt like the only thing we could do. After all the preparations and all the emotions, it was very disappointing when we heard we were not going.

AG: How difficult has it been to stay physically and mentally ready to play
since while being uncertain of the qualifying procedure?
CT: It's challenging physically because it's hard to have an organized conditioning program when things keep changing. I think we have done a good job of being flexible and adapting to the situation handed to us.

AG: How is the morale of the team now?
CT: The team is very excited to play again. We have't played a game in about three months so we are very anxious to get over to South Africa.

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