Junior USMNT Defeats Hosts for Opening Junior Pan American Games Win

Less than a minute later, USA doubled their lead when a threaded ball was one-time hit into the far corner by Max Schönfelder.

In the final two minutes before the break, Paraguay earned three penalty corners in succession and on the final attempt Jesus Velazquez sent a drag into the net to make it 2-1.

In the 32nd minute, USA added to their lead when Rory Bleeker quickly countered and flicked it into the net.

USA remained on the front foot for majority of the third period, only allowing one circle entry and a set piece, but no shots. Alex Beauduin added his name to the scoresheet in the 41st minute when he converted off a penalty corner.

In the 49th minute, USA extended their lead when Jasper Pouw had a reverse dump to Mehtab Grewal who volleyed it in out of the air.

In the last minute, USA goalkeeper Luke Jackson was called to action to keep Paraguay out. With 10 seconds to go, Faaris Rana had a reverse pass that Bennet Nobereit collected, pulled the goalkeeper out and put into the net to seal the 6-1 win.

Key Moments:

• 1’ USA with a threaded ball into the circle that goes through untouched
• 7’ A hard off ball foul in the circle earned Paraguay a penalty corner but to no avail
• 9’ USA responded with a set piece of their own, but the chance went wide
• 16' Faaris Rana with a backhand shot that sailed high over the goal
• 17’ USA earned a set piece which Mees Kloen fired too high on target
• 20’ Paraguay’s Matias Ferreria was issued a green card. USA quick to attack and get a forehand shot
• 24’ After George Schooley fought inside the circle, found space and flicked it up toward goal and Bennet Nobereit was on the back post to tap it in out of the air to give USA the lead
• 25’ Less than a minute later, USA doubled their lead when a threaded ball was one-time hit into the far corner by Max Schönfelder
• 28’ Paraguay earned three penalty corners in succession and on the final attempt Jesus Velazquez sent a drag into the net (2-1)
• 32’ USA added to their lead when Rory Bleeker quickly countered and flicked it into the net
• 34’ Matti Bertelsmeier created two shots that were both saved
• 36’ Bennet Nobereit was issued a 5-minute yellow card
• 41’ Alex Beauduin added his name to the scoresheet when he converted off a penalty corner (4-1)
• 49’ USA extended their lead when Jasper Pouw had a reverse dump to Mehtab Grewal who volleyed it in out of the air
• 60’ Luke Jackson was called to action to keep Paraguay out
• 60’ With 10 seconds to go, Faaris Rana had a reverse pass that Bennet Nobereit collected, pulled the goalkeeper out and put into the net (6-1)

Noteworthy:

• USA out shot Paraguay, 15 to 3
• Both USA and Paraguay had 6 penalty corners
• Nine USA athletes received their first junior outdoor international cap: Alex Beauduin, Matti Bertelsmeier, Luke Jackson, Faaris Rana, Ethan Reynolds, Felix Schönfelder, Max Schönfelder, George Schooley, Charles Webb
• This was the first official meeting between USA and Paraguay
• Although it is the second edition of the Junior Pan American Games, this is the first where the sport of field hockey is included.

Thoughts from Head Coach Pat Harris: "We started off slow in the first half, but we managed to make fixes that allowed us to create more goal scoring chances and slow down their attacking momentum. Overall the opening win gives us a good start."

Next Up: The Junior USMNT will play No. 3 Argentina in their second 2025 Junior Pan American Games pool game on Tuesday, August 12 at 4:30 p.m. ET. All games can be streamed on the PanAm Sports Channel.

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