Patty Shea
Encyclopedia
Patricia Ann Shea (born September 15, 1962 in Belmont, Massachusetts
) is a former field hockey
goalkeeper from the United States
, who was a member of the US women's team that finished fifth at the 1996 Summer Olympics
in Atlanta, Georgia
. She also competed in the 1988 Summer Olympics
in Seoul
, where Team USA finished in eighth and last position.
Overcoming more than a dozen knee surgeries in her eleven year National Team career, Shea anchored the USA defense as the team’s unyielding goalkeeper from 1985-1996. She defended the USA goal on the way to a World Hockey Cup bronze medal in 1994, and made an additional World Cup appearance in 1986, and earned Pan American Games
silver medals in 1987 and 1995. She also won a bronze medal at the 1995 Champions Trophy. Shea concluded her career in 1996 with 87 career international appearances.
As a result of her play in her two Olympic Tournaments, Shea was named the USA Field Hockey Athlete of the Year in 1988 and 1996. The University of Massachusetts
(1984) graduate is a two-time All-America selection (1982 and 1983) and a member of the Belmont High School
Hall of Fame.
She was the head coach at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst where she earned Atlantic-10 Coach of the Year honors in 1999 and 2000. Her contract was not renewed after a disappointing 2006 season.
Belmont, Massachusetts
Belmont is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, a suburb of Boston. The population was 24,729 at the 2010 census.- History :Belmont was founded on March 18, 1859 by former citizens of, and land from the bordering towns of Watertown, to the south; Waltham, to the west; and Arlington, then...
) is a former field hockey
Field hockey
Field Hockey, or Hockey, is a team sport in which a team of players attempts to score goals by hitting, pushing or flicking a ball into an opposing team's goal using sticks...
goalkeeper from the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, who was a member of the US women's team that finished fifth at the 1996 Summer Olympics
1996 Summer Olympics
The 1996 Summer Olympics of Atlanta, officially known as the Games of the XXVI Olympiad and unofficially known as the Centennial Olympics, was an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1996 in Atlanta, Georgia, United States....
in Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
. She also competed in the 1988 Summer Olympics
1988 Summer Olympics
The 1988 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIV Olympiad, were an all international multi-sport events celebrated from September 17 to October 2, 1988 in Seoul, South Korea. They were the second summer Olympic Games to be held in Asia and the first since the 1964 Summer Olympics...
in Seoul
Seoul
Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...
, where Team USA finished in eighth and last position.
Overcoming more than a dozen knee surgeries in her eleven year National Team career, Shea anchored the USA defense as the team’s unyielding goalkeeper from 1985-1996. She defended the USA goal on the way to a World Hockey Cup bronze medal in 1994, and made an additional World Cup appearance in 1986, and earned Pan American Games
Pan American Games
The Pan-American or Pan American Games are a major event in the Americas featuring summer and formerly winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Pan American Games are the second largest multi-sport event after the Summer Olympics...
silver medals in 1987 and 1995. She also won a bronze medal at the 1995 Champions Trophy. Shea concluded her career in 1996 with 87 career international appearances.
As a result of her play in her two Olympic Tournaments, Shea was named the USA Field Hockey Athlete of the Year in 1988 and 1996. The University of Massachusetts
University of Massachusetts
This article relates to the statewide university system. For the flagship campus often referred to as "UMass", see University of Massachusetts Amherst...
(1984) graduate is a two-time All-America selection (1982 and 1983) and a member of the Belmont High School
Belmont High School (Belmont, Massachusetts)
Belmont High School is a four-year public high school in Belmont, Massachusetts. It was built in 1970 at a cost of $9 million. The school had 1,170 students enrolled and a student/teacher ratio of 16:1 in the 2004-05 school year....
Hall of Fame.
She was the head coach at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst where she earned Atlantic-10 Coach of the Year honors in 1999 and 2000. Her contract was not renewed after a disappointing 2006 season.