racing.Were going to be quicker and the degradation will be higher .

RIO DE JANEIRO -- Take a glance at the Olympic roster for the United States womens field hockey team, and youll notice a recurring theme -- 12 of the 25 players on the undefeated squad are from Pennsylvania.The states success in the sport goes back decades. Beth Anders, the leading overall womens scorer at the 1984 Olympics, is from Norristown. Ten of the 16 players on that bronze-medal winning team were from Pennsylvania.The Americans now seek their first medal since that run in Los Angeles. They play Britain on Saturday to determine which team will win Pool B. After that, theyll play in the quarterfinals.If the United States returns to the podium, the Keystone State will have played a major role. The top American standouts at this years games -- forward Katie Bam (Blue Bell) and goalie Jackie Briggs (Robesonia) -- are from there.To a large degree, its self-fulfilling, USA field hockey executive director Simon Hoskins said. The elite players become elite coaches in that area, and they help develop the next generation of athletes. Its been a virtuous cycle of ever-improving hockey, and now were at this level that -- we can compete with anyone. Were world-beaters right now, which is great to see.Other players on the roster from Pennsylvania are Ali Campbell (Gilbertsville), Lauren Crandall (Doylestown), Katelyn Falgowski (Landenberg), Kelsey Kolojejchick (Larksville), Alyssa Manley (Lititz), sisters Julia and Katie Reinprecht (Perkasie), Paige Selenski (Shavertown), Kathleen Sharkey (Moosic) and Jill Witmer (Lancaster). All are from the eastern third of the state.Pennsylvanias success prompted the national program to move its headquarters to Lancaster in 2013. U.S. coach Craig Parnham said the training site was moved from Chula Vista, California, so the players could train together and build camaraderie while being close to family and friends. The facility, about a 90-minute drive from Philadelphia, is appropriately named the Home of Hockey.Pennsylvania has the infrastructure to help young players develop -- Bam said she had a stick in her hands when she was 3 and began playing at 7. The Pennsylvania group grew up in the culture, which has only become stronger as it has blossomed together.I think the competition when youre growing up breeds it, Falgowski said. I think always playing at a high level against good competition -- a lot of us grew up playing against each other. I think 10, 20 years of doing that together really raises the bar, and the competitive spirit within us really wants to challenge each other and play as best we can.Pennsylvania is so heavily represented at the games, in part, because the sport hasnt caught on to the same degree beyond the east coast.That could change in the future. Hoskins said USA Field Hockey has grown from a 15,000-member organization to 25,000 in the past five years, with most of the growth in places such as Chicago, St. Louis and Houston and parts of California and Colorado.Our mission is to serve our members, grow the game and compete internationally, he said. By succeeding internationally, by performing in the Olympic Games, by exposing our beautiful sport to more people across America, we would love it to grow, and make it a great way to inspire young female and male athletes to play our game.---Follow Cliff Brunt on Twitter (at)CliffBruntAP Soccer Jerseys China . -- Three close looks at the bucket, three misses. Stitched Soccer Jerseys . -- Teemu Selanne scored the first goal of his 22nd NHL season, and the Anaheim Ducks extended the best start in franchise history with their fifth straight victory, 3-2 over the Calgary Flames on Wednesday night. https://www.soccerjerseyschina.us/ . President of baseball operations Larry Beinfest was fired Friday after 12 years with the Marlins. The move came as the team neared the end of its third consecutive last-place season in the NL East. Replica Soccer Jerseys .J. Ellis hit two-run homers and the NL West champion Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the San Diego Padres 4-0 Saturday night. Cheap Soccer Jerseys Authentic . Both players have lower body injuries that will keep them out of the lineup until at least January 31, which is the first game they can be activated from IR. Chaz Mostert will be among the many Supercars drivers doing anti-rain dances to end Melbournes mini-monsoon in time for the Sandown 500.The Victorian capital will host the 500km classic at the end of one of its wettest weeks of the year.Rain and Supercars dont mix well - as this years Clipsal 500 showed - meaning team owners will be hoping for fine conditions during Saturdays qualifying sessions and Sundays race.If not, Mostert said everyone could expect a wild ride.Hopefully it dries out by the weekend or we get some dry segments. If not its going to be a pretty hard weekend, he said.Youve got to learn to drive around it. Sandown does get pretty slippery in the wet ... theres not much grip.The season-opening Clipsal 500 saw a thunderstorm on the brink of the green light, leading to calamitous scenes and a stunning race win by local Nick Percat.Even if it doesnt rain, new rules that dictate soft tyres must be used in dry weather will make for dramatic racing.Were going to be quicker and the degradation will be higher ... that will bring in a lot more strategy, Mostert said.The way (the tyres) tear up and marble across the race is pretty crazy.ddddddddddddIf you run off line youre able to scoot off on marbles ... with 500 kilometres worth of marbles on the track, passing is going to be very, very hard.Steve Owen will partner the in-form Mostert through the Enduro Cup.The 24-year-old has five top-five finishes from his last six races but says hes too far back to make an unlikely run for the championship - even as the endurance races double the amount of points on offer each weekend.Trying for the championship is unrealistic with six guys in front of me and 300 points or so up the road, he said.When youve got the consistency of (Jamie) Whincup and (Shane) van Gisbergen, whose bad days might be a fifth, its pretty hard.And (Craig) Lowndesy whos more consistent than ever and Frosty (Mark Winterbottom) who makes sure he finishes every race.But were still chipping away. Our goal is top five.If we surprise ourselves by going up further its been a great weekend. ' ' '