Former Iowa field-hockey standout Lauren Pfeiffer has been named to the 2011 USA Women’s National Team, according to a release.

Pfeiffer was a two-time All-American at Iowa and led the Hawkeyes to the 2008 Final Four. She has competed for Team USA since 2009 and has appeared in 27 games for the squad.

“Lauren is a great representative of the Iowa field-hockey program,” head coach Tracey Griesbaum said in a statement. “We are very proud of her accomplishments and wish her the best of luck as she strives for excellence on the international level.”

Six current Hawkeyes will compete in the U.S.A. Junior High Performance Women’s National Championships, to be held June 18-25 in Virginia Beach, Va. The tournament is a round-robin-style competition featuring athletes from USA Field Hockey’s six regional High Performance Centers.

Juniors Sarah Drake, Geena Lesiak, and Kathleen McGraw will join sophomores Kelsey Mitchell and Danielle Peirson and incoming recruit Dani Hemeon on the Midwest Junior High Performance team.

In addition, sophomore Aubrey Coleman will serve as an alternate, junior Kelsey Boyce will play on the training team, and Griesbaum will be an assistant coach.

“They are working hard and bringing positive energy to every team session,” Iowa’s 11-year coach said in a statement. “They will provide positional balance to the Midwest Team, as well as a sense of a competitiveness. We look forward to the USA Women’s Junior National Championships.”

— by Seth Roberts