The U.S. is back in the Olympics for field hockey, thanks in part to Episcopal Academy graduate Ashley Sessa.

The 12^th-ranked U.S. field hockey team qualified for the Paris Olympics following a recent 2-1 win over 9^th-ranked Japan in an Olympic qualifier on Jan. 18, writes Maria McIlwain for The Philadelphia Inquirer.

Sessa, a Schwenksville native, was named player of the match. She went into the game with a desire to “play a major role” in the U.S. qualifying for the Olympics.

She took a waiver from the University of North Carolina to train for the national team.

“I want to help the team win and grow as a player,” she said in September. “I want to make a difference with the scoreline, but also, I don’t want to be selfish. I want to make other people look good.”

The U.S. will field a 16-player team in Paris. Ashley Sessa could be joined by a former teammate, Erin Matson, 23, a Chadds Ford native, who is currently the Tar Heels coach. 

The last time a U.S. field hockey team played in the Olympics was in 2016, finishing fifth. Its last field hockey medal was in 1984.

Read more about the game against Japan in The Philadelphia Inquirer.