Win Over Costa Rica Pushes USMNT to 2023 Hockey5s PAC Semifinals

KINGSTON, Jamaica – The U.S. Men’s National Team will advance to the 2023 Hockey5s Pan American Cups (PAC) Semifinals with a victory over Costa Rica. Scoreless until after five minutes in, USA opened up and tallied two goals in each half to shutout their opponent 4-0.

The competition looked tight to start off the match, with shots by Tyler Sundeen (Simi Valley, Calif.) and Ajai Dhadwal (Agoura Hills, Calif.) that were followed by a quick spurt of possession from Costa Rica. A few more shots from USA were saved by the quick reactions of Costa Rica goalkeeper Aldair Bejarano, until the six-minute mark when Michael Barminski (Ventura, Calif.) sent a rocket of a backhand shot into the goal to put USA up 1-0. Costa Rica wasted no time pressing after going down, sending a shot just wide of the cage. USA kept the pressure up, with shots taken in rapid succession by Sundeen and Jatin Sharma (South San Francisco, Calif.) that were both saved. Less than a minute left in the half, Barminski intercepted in the midfield and slipped a pass to Amarpreet Sidhu (San Jose, Calif.), who buried the ball in the cage to give USA a 2-0 lead going into the half.

Continuing the next frame right where they left off, USA quickly got on the board again. Sundeen sent a lifted ball to Barminiski, who precisely placed a pass to Sidhu on the far post who tapped it in to extend the lead to 3-0. USA continued with good movement around the field, giving up possiession briefly when goalkeeper Tristian Clemons (Hattiesburg, Miss.) was forced to make a save. On par with the quick pace of the game, USA found the goal not one minute later when a solid defensive play from Sundeen led to him lifting the ball over the Costa Rica goalkeeper and into the back of the net. Leading by a comfortable 4-0 margin, USA looked for a few more chances in the remaining minutes, as the match came to a close with a 4-0 shutout.

USA will be back on the court this evening, when they take on the winner of the second crossover, Paraguay, at 7:30 p.m. ET.

For more information regarding the Hockey5s Pan American Cups, visit the event page.

#5PAC2023

All photographs appearing on this site are property of USA Field Hockey/World Sport Pics. They are protected by the U.S. Copyright Laws, and are not to be downloaded, reproduced or used in any way without written permission of USA Field Hockey/World Sport Pics.

If you are a college SID, club coach, sponsor or media outlet, email communications@usafieldhockey.com.