Athens Wins Gold to Kick Off 2025 Junior Nexus Championship
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VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – The 2025 Junior Nexus Championship (NXC), presented by Osaka Hockey, got started with the U-14 age division last Thursday in Virginia Beach. The Junior Nexus Championship is a culmination of hard work, bringing together hundreds of athletes selected from regions across the country. The first three days showcased the U-14 division, with team Athens taking home gold.
This year’s Junior NXC runs from July 10 through 20, with the Senior NXC taking place July 18 through 20.
The U-14 Junior NXC kicked off with a morning of practices, followed by competitive matches, and finished off the first day (after a brief weather delay) with a goalkeeper session. After a second day full of games, the third and final day of the U-14 Junior NXC featured crossovers and medal matches. 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.
After winning their respective semifinals, Athens and Montreal found themselves pitted against each other in the gold medal match. A first half goal from Athens propelled them to victory. Los Angeles played Rome for the bronze, a game which went into shootouts after staying tied at 1-1 after regulation. Los Angeles took the win after a dramatic sudden victory shootout.
USA Field Hockey would like to thank all the athletes, coaches, umpires, technical staff, umpire managers, Nexus staff and volunteers who continue to make the U-14 Girls NXC a success. Congratulations to this year's winners!
First Place: Athens
Coach: Tara Heskett
Emily Aynardi, Annie Banks, Lauren Bruso, Emilia Devendorf, Harper Donelson, Abigail Forrer, Adalynn Frautten, Claire Haas, Peyton Kirchoff, Giselle Naticchione, Ezra Oandasan, Lily Slocum, Savannah Sokol, Stella Smith, Ava Vuille, Gracie Wilson
Second Place: Montreal
Coach: Sanjay Kodali
Blake Barnes, Katherine Cerami, Caroline Curtin, Peyton Dillon, Caroline Galiski, Ella Loparco, Sydney Grossman, Ava Guarino, Emma Hershner, Ella Hoffman, Amiroop Kaur, Quinn Kidwell, Payton Mazza, Alice Moorman, Vienna Naticchione, Josephine Paine
Third Place: Los Angeles
Coach: Stephanie Seeley
Emily Allen, Axelle Baizan, Francesca Bardi, Piper Coffey, Gabriella Hendricks, Francesca Ierubino, Teagan Kelly, Annika Klick, Victory McGuire, Harper McIntosh, Ellen Oeswein, Samantha Saltzman, Kate Thompson, Bevin Skibo, Darcy Strachan, Remi Wilson
Barbara Longstreth Winner: Berlin
Coach: Noah den Hartog
Addison Armstrong, Ainslee Austin, Marianne Bailey, Cecilia Bruns, Grace Curtis, Grace Glenn, Gabriella Ensani, Audrey Leonard, Madison Mauch, Maggie Murphy, Ava Smith, Emerson Thiesing, Elizabeth Wagner, Kate Veres, Emma Von Mering, Collins Wood
Each year during the Nexus Championship, USA Field Hockey hosts a fundraising raffle that benefits the future of the field hockey community. All funds raised in the raffle help make field hockey more accessible and inclusive to all aspiring athletes in the player pathway who would otherwise be unable to participate without financial assistance. The financial assistance given each year allows more than a hundred athletes to participate in the Olympic Development Pathway.
The Nexus Championship team that sells the most combined raffle tickets receives a gift from presenting sponsor, Osaka Hockey, for the entire team.
Most Sold Raffle Tickets#
Team: Athens
Individual: Gracie Wilson
Team: Athens
