VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – The U-18 Girls division of the 2023 Junior Nexus Championship(NXC), presented by Osaka Hockey, concluded this Friday after three days of stellar competition. Sixteen teams comprised of athletes from around the country gathered at the Virginia Beach Regional Training Center in Virginia Beach, Va. to learn from top coaches and compete for the championship title.

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.

New to this year, the 2023 Nexus Championship now encompasses the entire junior and senior pathway. The Junior NXC runs from July 6-16, finishing this week with the U-21 Girls division, while the Senior NXC also continues until July 16.

The gold medal match took place on Friday between Amsterdam and Montreal. Amsterdam got the ball rolling early, scoring off of a penalty corner in just the first few minutes of play. Then with just a minute left in the frame, Malena Magnano finished on a penalty corner opportunity as Amsterdam doubled their lead to 2-0. Montreal kept it close with a goal of their own in the third quarter, burying a cross on the lefthand post to make the score 2-1. Amsterdam sealed the deal in the fourth with a long shot from the edge of the circle from Magnano, claiming a 3-1 championship victory.

It was Los Angeles against Barcelona in the bronze medal match on Friday afternoon. Los Angeles struck first with time expired in the first quarter, going up 1-0 after a scramble in front of the cage on a penalty corner that resulted in a goal. Los Angeles made it 2-0 halfway through the second quarter when Katelyn Strawser tipped in a shot from the top of the circle. Barcelona fought back in the next few minutes, as Opal Sparling buried a penalty stroke to bring the score to 2-1. It wasn’t until the fourth quarter that another goal came, again to Barcelona who brought the score to an even 2-2 with two minutes to play. With the threat of shootouts looming, Los Angeles made a break down the field with just 30 seconds left, and Blake Wilks sent a rocket into the cage to send Los Angeles home with the bronze in a 3-2 victory.

The three medalists were awarded their hardware by the U.S. U-21 Women’s National Team, who are currently in Virginia Beach participating in the Senior Nexus Championship. Between awards, there was a brief celebration for the U-21 USWNT’s Junior Pan American Cup victory, featuring a few words from three-time Olympian and USA Field Hockey Hall of Fame Inductee Lauren Crandall Liska.

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-18 Girls NXC a success, and to extend its congratulations to the following teams on their tournament victories:

FIRST PLACE: AMSTERDAM

Coach: Brittney Randolph

Amsterdam Claims First Place Title at the 2023 U-18 Girls Nexus Championship

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