2023 U-16 Girls NCC Concludes, WC Eagles Crowned Champions

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – An elite group of twenty-four U-16 club teams gathered at the Virginia Beach Regional Training Center and Princess Anne Athletic Complex in Virginia Beach, Va. for the 2023 U-16 Girls National Club Championship (NCC), presented by YOLO Sportswear. After three days of fierce competition, camaraderie, and a few weather delays, WC Eagles were crowned champions after defeating Freedom HKY on Wednesday afternoon.

This year, in a brand-new format, eight additional teams were sent to Virginia Beach in a play-in bracket with a chance to make their way into the top sixteen.

The bronze medal match was a battle between Spirit of USA and Mayhem. Mayhem started off hot with a goal within the first two minutes. It was just about three minutes later when Maura Seeger (Bryn Mawr, Pa.) put in another to make it 2-0. Mayhem kept their foot on the gas in the second half, scoring on a fast transition in the third quarter to go up 3-0. Spirit retaliated a few minutes later, scoring on a penalty corner to make it 3-1. Mayhem sealed the deal with four minutes remaining in the third quarter on their own penalty corner, then protected their 4-1 lead to win the bronze.

The championship was a match-up between Pennsylvania’s WC Eagles and Maryland’s Freedom HKY. WC Eagles got on the board early, just barely two minutes into play. They were shutdown however for the rest of the frame by Freedom HKY, leaving the score 1-0 after the first quarter. The next quarter opened up a pair of goals for WC Eagles, putting them up 3-0, but Freedom HKY put up a solid defensive effort in the third quarter, to keep the score the same. A straight shot on a penalty corner at the end of the match from Reese D'Ariano (West Chester, Pa.) gave WC Eagles one more goal, claiming the crown with a 4-0 win.

USA Field Hockey would like to congratulate all of this year's U-16 National Club Championship teams, athletes and coaches who participated! As well as thank the umpires, technical staff, umpire managers and volunteers who continue to make NCC a success.

The National Club Championship will conclude with the U-19 age division this weekend.

#NCC2023

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

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

Head Coach: Richard Kentwell

In Alphabetical Order: Olivia Anderson, Taylor Bigbie, Erin Callahan, Reese D’Ariano, Rylee Dennis, Haley Elliott, Sofia Ferri, Arianna Fragomeni, Abigail Gerdeman, Grace Hunter, Soren Izabella Kipphut, Maeve McGinley, Reese Milone, Morgan O’Donnell, Brooke Parker, Kiera Sack, Isabella Sanchez, Maura Simpson, Opal Sparling, Aubrey Turner

Head Coach: Sarah Dawson

In Alphabetical Order: Jane Baldy, Ava Boland, Olivia Bond, Veera Chidanandan, Sophia Coleman, Finley Davidson, Carys Donahoe, Audrey Fleshman, Eve Fowler, Eliza Jacobson, Katelyn Kearns, Jacqueline Kerner, Raleigh Kerst, Ameerah Kothari, Madeline Lacione, Isabella Mazza, Paige Mogar, Ryleigh Osborne, Caroline Richard, Emerson Ross, Kelsey Rowe, Siena Turner, Emma Weber

Head Coach: Martu Loncarica

In Alphabetical Order: Alaina Charlesworth, Caitlin Connell, Devon Damminger, Eliana DeGennaro, Aubrey Delorefice, Kendall Deluca, Margaret Dowd, Veronica Goettner, Sophie Green, Norah Kirsch, Lauren Kurek, Lauren Kushma, Julia McGlynn, Alexis Patterson, Reese Samra, Maura Seeger, Peyton Shellway, Sanne Smits, Scarlett Wood, Shae Wozniak, Sydney Wright

#NCC2023

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

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