Pittsburgh, Pa. - Earlier this month, Cougars junior forward Yana Samouilidis participated in the Amerigiol Latam Cup for team Greece. Samouilidis led the way, scoring a hat-trick in the cup, clinching a 5-1 victory over Team Caribbean. 

 

Samouilidis made her debut for the Greek national women's team at the 2025 Challenger Series, played in Chicago, IL. She played a vital role in team Greece winning the tournament after beating the likes of team North America and Puerto Rico. Representing the Greek national team has been a life-changing and gratifying experience for the Portland, Oregon, native.

 

"Playing for the Greek team has been one of my favorite experiences and has made me so proud to be a part of Greek heritage and to play with a group of girls that come from a similar background," Samouilidis commented. "The opportunity to play and represent Greece is something I'll always remember, and I hope to be a part of more soon."

 

Her contributions on the national stage have brought increased recognition to the women's hockey program on Chatham's campus. 

 

"Anytime one of our players has an opportunity to represent their heritage is a special thing," Head Women's Hockey Coach Michael O'Grady said. "Being able to watch Yana help lead team Greece to victory at the Amerigol games was awesome." 

 

Samouilidis hopes to use these experiences to improve her skill set and aid her in continuing to make considerable contributions to the program that recruited her from the Stars Elite system three years ago. 

 

"I think that my time with team Greece really helped me sharpen my focus as we head into the beginning of the season at Chatham, and I'm excited to continue to grow as a player for both the Greek team and for Chatham!" Samouilidis stated. 

 

Coach O'Grady has seen her dedication and growth firsthand since Samouilidis arrived on campus. 

 

"Yana has been a steady player for us the past two seasons, so we are looking forward to seeing her continue to grow. I'm looking forward to seeing her bring that scoring touch to our lineup this year!" 

 

Fans can catch Samouilidis and the new-look Cougars, who are seeking their second consecutive playoff birth this November.