Nexus

2026 Nexus Championship Concludes with U-21 & Senior Divisions

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VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – The 2026 Nexus Championship (NXC), presented by Osaka Hockey, finally came to a close after 11 days in Virginia Beach, Va. The event finished out with the U-21 Junior NXC and Senior NXC on the final three days. China was named the champion of U-21, while Australia took home gold in the Senior division.

After the conclusion of the U-18 age division on Friday, July 17, the two oldest groups took to the field for practices into the evening. Games got going on Saturday morning, with a goalkeeper session in the middle of the day before games resumed.

The final day featured championship matches for both the U-21 Junior and Senior divisions. For the U-21s, the top two teams in each pool crossed over to play in the semifinals early on Sunday. Belgium defeated England, 5-1, while China advanced with a 2-0 win over Spain. In the championship match, China claimed a 3-1 victory, with goals from Meredith Southard Pantano (Pepperell, MA), Lillian Clark (West Gardiner, ME) and Kate Logsdon (Saint Louis, MO).

The winners of the two Senior pools, Australia and Germany, battled it out in the final after going 3-0 in pool play. A goal in the first quarter from Australia's Maci Bradford (Laurel, DE) would turn out to be the deciding factor, as Australia took home gold with the 1-0 victory.

USA Field Hockey would like to thank all the athletes, coaches, selectors, umpires, umpire managers, Nexus staff, and volunteers who made the 2026 NXC a success.


Congratulations to this year's winners!

Senior 

  • First Place: Australia

    Coach: Tara Zollinger

    Ella Beach, Kendall Gilmore, Aida Ierubino, Sofia Fidalgo Schioppa, Reese Milone, Erin Callahan, Lucy Parker, Isabella Moore, Abigail Gerdeman, Jenna Narleski, Jordyn Hollamon, Saylor Milone, Callie Rogers, Maci Bradford, Talia Schenck, Isabella Bianco, Ryleigh Osborne, Abygail Deverka

U-21 

  • First Place: China

    Coach: Katie Gerzabek

    Chloe Almeida, Mackenzie Clarke, Gracey Crawford, Ella Gandy, Hailey Haynes, Lillian Clark, Lylah Kaminski, Caroline Kotz, Leah Larit, Kate Logsdon, Emerson Nowell, Mckenzie Rackleff, Lily Rost, Bridget Schilb, Meredith Southard Pantano, Blair Strachan, Avery Alleva, Erin McNamara

  • Second Place: Belgium

    Coach: Brandi Ritz

    Sarah Anetsberger, Sadie Clarkin, Karys Craver, Montgomery Ferguson, Valentina Ganocy, Abigail Giusto, Annaliese Hering, Kathryn Jackivicz, Callie McCarron, Isabella Sanchez, Blair Bowman, Catalina Stefanich, Vivian Swary, Melina Voliotis, Elsa Wood, Morgan Lala, Piper Reibsane

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): Spain

    Coach: Leslie Smith

  • Most Sold Raffle Tickets (Individual): Jadyn Houston

    Team: Argentina

  • Barbara Longstreth Sportsmanship Award: Ireland

    Coach: Lynea Gregory