VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – The final age division of the 2024 Junior Nexus Championship (NXC), presented by Osaka Hockey, concluded on Tuesday with the U-21 Girls. Six teams participated in training sessions and games at the Virginia Beach Regional Training Center in Virginia Beach, Va.
The young athletes from around the country showed off their skills in front of selectors, coaches and fans as they competed for evaluation to further opportunities. Congratulations to all the athletes for their hard work and dedication the last few days.
This year’s U-21 Girls NXC kicked off on Sunday, July 14 with practices, and continued the next two days with highly competitive matches. Athletes gained insight from new teammates while being led by some of the top coaching talent in the country.
St. Louis entered the final with a perfect 3-0 record, having took down Atlanta 3-0 in the semifinal. Los Angeles came in looking to avenge their single loss to St. Louis – a narrow 2-1 defeat the day before. The final would be even closer, with both teams showing skill and poise. Los Angeles got on the board first, as Ellie Goldstein (West Hartford, Conn.) took it herself into the circle and sent a reverse chip shot with a little over two minutes left in the first quarter. St. Louis was right back with the equalizer two minutes later, as Molly Stutte (St. Louis, Mo.) received a long ball into the circle and sent it past the goalkeeper.
Early in the second, Los Angeles found the back of the cage again, when Anjolie Norton (Poway, Calif.) nailed a reverse chip shot. Los Angeles would hold onto that 2-1 lead heading into the halftime break. The back-and-forth resumed three minutes into the third frame when Kiersten Smith (East Amherst, N.Y.) received a ball sent into the center from Stutte and drove the ball into the righthand corner of the cage. Halfway through the quarter, St. Louis took their first lead, 3-2, as Elizabeth Adams (Virginia Beach, Va.) finished the ball at post.
Los Angeles tied it up at 3-3 with seven minutes left in the match, with Sarah Ellis (Virginia Beach, Va.) finishing a rebound after Camille Perlov (Hopkinton, Mass.) dribbled around the defense and took a shot. The final whistle sounded with the two teams tied at 3-3 and went into shootouts. On back of stellar goalkeeping from Emily Nicholls (Haddon Heights, N.J.), St. Louis won the shootout 1-0 to claim the gold medal.
USA Field Hockey would like to thank all the athletes, coaches, umpires, technical staff, umpire managers, staff and volunteers who continue to make the U-21 Girls NXC a success, and to extend its congratulations to the following teams on their tournament victories:
Coach: Colleen Cassada
In alphabetical order:
Elizabeth Adams, Autumn Albright, Stella Bumgarner, Gianna Caldero, Riley Clouse, Megan Frank, Tessa Lambright, Caitlin Lozano, Emily Nicholls, Brooke Perry, Carolena (lena) Ryon, Gretchen Scott, Kiersten Smith, Molly Stutte, Mia Ward, Allysen Whitehead, Mary Wordelmann
Second Place: Los
Angeles
Coach: Kerry Kiddoo
In alphabetical order:
Mary Adams, Tatum Anderson, Brenna Campagna, Alessia Cicuto, Abby Davidson, Kate Donnellan, Ella Elliott, Sarah Ellis, Ellie Goldstein, Sophia Grimm, Riley Guy, Katie Hanich, Darcy Kopsinis, Emma Larit, Anjolie Norton, Camille Perlov, Sophie Watson
By USWNT
