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<p>Her uncanny knack for creating plays made Paige Selenski the darling of the U.S. field hockey team in the 2012 London Olympics.</p><p>Four years later, her determination away from the field could play an important part in the team&#8217;s Olympic success.</p><p>While Selenski likely won&#8217;t get a chance to score goals, register assists or lead inspiring charges toward the cage, she will have an opportunity as a U.S. alternate to affect the outcomes of the upcoming games.</p><p>&#8220;Definitely,&#8221; said Selenski, a former Dallas High School star who is coming off of a significant injury. &#8220;Having been there and done it, I offer a different perspective. Sometimes you see more observing the game than you do being right in it. It&#8217;s an outside perspective.&#8221;</p><p>Inside, it&#8217;s gnawing at Selenski, 26, a first-team high school All-American and 2007 Pennsylvania Player of the Year at Dallas.</p><p>Selenski, who finished eighth in NCAA history with 238 career points and was a four-time All-American at the University of Virginia, just isn&#8217;t accustomed to being out of the action.</p><p>&#8220;It was not my goal to be the (Team USA) alternate,&#8221; she said.</p><p>Then she thinks about what her body&#8217;s been through, and how far she&#8217;s come.</p><p>After scoring a goal for the United States in the 2012 London Olympics, in which her team finished 12th, Selenski shot to national stardom. She was featured in ESPN Magazine&#8217;s Body Issue and was part of a promotional package for the U.S. team leading up to this summer&#8217;s Games in Rio de Janeiro.</p><p>But Selenski suffered a serious hamstring tear in March of last year. After trying to play through it with limited success, she opted to have it surgically repaired in December.</p><p>&#8220;Only 80 percent of the people who had this (type of tear) were able to come back,&#8221; Selenski said. &#8220;It was a really serious injury. I didn&#8217;t know if I&#8217;d be able to run again. When I came out of surgery, my dad didn&#8217;t think I was going to be able to play again. It&#8217;s a six- to nine-month recovery. I was back in five months, playing competitively. I&#8217;ve told myself I&#8217;m very thankful.</p><p>&#8220;I&#8217;m very fortunate to be able to play.&#8221;</p><p>She nearly played her way back onto the USA&#8217;s active squad before settling for an alternate&#8217;s spot. In that position, Selenski will accompany Team USA to Rio, practice with the squad, and offer invaluable advice.</p><p>&#8220;I do everything except play,&#8221; Selenski said.</p><p>Unless, of course, one of her teammates cannot. Then, Selenski will be waiting to charge into action while doing whatever it takes to get the United States to the Olympic medal stand.</p><p>&#8220;I&#8217;m playing a bit of a different role,&#8221; she said. &#8220;I&#8217;m excited to be there and support my team. I&#8217;ll still get to prepare for the Games. If anything were to happen, and if they need someone to go in, I&#8217;ll be there.</p><p>&#8220;I just need to be ready.&#8221;</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">U.S. field hockey player Paige Selenski competes in the Rio Send-Off Series against Team India at Spooky Nook Sports in Manheim on July 18, 2016. (Pete G. Wilcox|Times Leader) </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/web1_paigeselenski01.jpg</photo0><caption0>U.S. field hockey player Paige Selenski competes in the Rio Send-Off Series against Team India at Spooky Nook Sports in Manheim on July 18, 2016. (Pete G. Wilcox|Times Leader) </caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/web1_paigeselenski03.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Paige Selenski, battling back from a torn hamstring, remains focused on her role as an alternate for the U.S. team. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/web1_paigeselenski03.jpg</photo1><caption1>Paige Selenski, battling back from a torn hamstring, remains focused on her role as an alternate for the U.S. team. </caption1><photoCredit1>Pete G. Wilcox|Times Leader </photoCredit1></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><subheadMeta>Former Olympic darling Selenski reserves backround role on USA field hockey team</subheadMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Paul Sokoloski</p><p>psokoloski@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Paul Sokoloski at 570-991-6392 or on Twitter @TLPaulSokoloski</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Ex-Dallas High star Paige Selenski provides alternate view in field hockey