U-21 USWNT Opens 2025 JWC With Emphatic Win Over New Zealand
SANTIAGO, Chile – In their first pool game of the 2025 FIH Hockey Women’s Junior World Cup (JWC), the No. 6 U.S. U-21 Women’s National Team faced No. 13 New Zealand. After no goals were scored by either side in the opening frame, the Junior Eagles opened up their attack, eventually taking a 5-2 victory.
The match began with no circle entries in the first seven minutes. Finally, it was New Zealand with the first chance, a diving touch that was saved by USA goalkeeper Alyssa Klebasko.
The Junior Eagles began to settle into the match in the final minutes of the first quarter, finding drives up the field, but with no outcomes yet. Several minutes into the second frame, Alaina McVeigh opened the scoring for USA.
At minute 24, a missed reception on New Zealand's set piece set up a counterattack from USA, leading to their own penalty corner. Josie Hollamon nailed a one-time reverse shot off a rebound to put USA up 2-0.
With ten seconds left in the second quarter, New Zealand earned a penalty corner, but the chance was cleared as the Junior Eagles held a 2-0 lead at halftime.
One minute into the third, McVeigh found her second goal of the match, after Reese D'Ariano sent a pass ahead of all the New Zealand defenders.
In the 41st minute, New Zealand found their way onto the scoreboard, off a reverse shot goal by Greer Findlay. USA held on to their 3-1 lead heading into the final frame.
It took just one minute into the fourth for USA to score yet again, as Mia Schoenbeck showed off her penalty corner drag flick.
Two minutes later, at the 48-minute mark, Reese D'Ariano tallied to give the red, white, and blue a 5-1 advantage.
New Zealand found one final goal in the 52nd minute, but it was USA with the 5-2 victory to open pool play.
Player of the Match: Alaina McVeigh
Key Moments:
- 7' Alyssa Klebasko makes the first save of the match
- 11' New Zealand penalty corner is changed to a USA free hit after video review
- 17' Alaina McVeigh put USA up 1-0 with a low angle reverse goal
- 24' Josie Hollamon scores on a one-time backhand, USA up 2-0
- 31' Reese D'Ariano passes up to Alaina McVeigh, who dribbles around the goalkeeper, USA leads 3-0
- 34' New Zealand loses their video referral
- 36' New Zealand penalty corner shot is blocked by Mia Schoenbeck
- 38' Key save from USA goalkeeper Alyssa Klebasko
- 41' New Zealand scores off a reverse shot, USA leads 3-1
- 44' New Zealand issued a yellow card
- 46' Reese D'Ariano earns USA a set piece, Mia Schoenbeck scores off a drag flick. USA up 4-1
- 48' Reese D'Ariano scores to put USA up 5-1
- 52' New Zealand's Greer Findlay scores again, USA holds a 5-2 lead
Noteworthy:
- Alaina McVeigh scored her 13th goal in her past six matches
- Josie Hollamon tallied her first junior international goal
- It was the first junior international caps for Mary Adams, Reese D'Ariano and Reese Anetsberger
- USA has now won their past two meetings with New Zealand, after previously losing three consecutive, all in the FIH Hockey Junior World Cup
Next Up: The Junior Eagles will play No. 10 Korea in their second pool play match on Wednesday, December 3 at 1:45 p.m. ET. Fans can watch it live on Watch.Hockey.
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