USA Field Hockey will be featuring weekly spotlights of U.S. U-21 Women's National Team members selected to represent Team USA at the women's Hockey Junior World Cup 2016 (JWC).
She has a habit of picking flowers or taking pictures with them. She can break dance and enjoys watching the show Prison Break. She attends her dream school and is studying criminology. She aspires to play at the Olympic Games one day and also looks up to many Olympic field hockey athletes. Meet U.S. U-21 Women's National Team member Linnea Gonzales.
A native of Bel Air, Md., Linnea doesn't travel far from home for college as she attends the University of Maryland. Ever since she was a little girl she has been obsessed with the school and claims that going there is a dream come true. While she plays for the Terrapins, she is also working toward a degree of criminology.
In her spare time Linnea likes to listen to music and spend times with friends. She says her friends always brighten her mood because they are always able to joke around with one another for hours, and it never gets old.
Linnea has a passion for flowers and cooking. Her friends always make fun of her because whenever she sees a batch of colorful flowers she either picks them or takes a picture with them. As for cooking, she loves to try new healthy meals to make for herself and others. In her future she hopes to graduate from Maryland with both a degree in criminology as well as a national championship under her belt. Upon graduating she wants to play at the next level by competing with the U.S. Women's National Team and hopefully one day develop more as a player to contend at the Olympic Games.
Quick Facts about Linnea Gonzales
Position: Midfield/Forward
Hometown: Bel Air, Md.
High School: Patterson Mill High School
Club Team: H2OField Hockey
College: University of Maryland
Major: Criminology
International Playing Experience: 2012 U.S. U-17 Women's National Team Holland Tour & 2014 U.S. U-21 Women's National Team Holland Tour, Women's Junior Pan American Games
Field Hockey Awards: 2013 All-Metro Player of the Year, First Team All-American, H2O Field Hockey 3x National Champions, 2015 Second Team All Big-Ten, Big-Ten Freshman of the Year, All Mid-Atlantic Team, Second Team All-American, Big Ten Player to Watch (2015 & 2016)
Began Playing Field Hockey: Third grade
Game Day Routinue: Listen to music, visualize how she will play, step on the field and have fun
Best Words of Advice: "Play to your potential and have a go." - Janneke Schopman
Most Memorable Field Hockey Moment: Scoring against Iowa to tie the game, loved the energy of her teammates and connected they were
Hockey Role Model: Katie O'Donnell (ever since she was little she watched her play), Melissa Gonzalez (because they have the same last name and she has a cool personality) and Paige Selenski (a completely dynamic and hard-working player)
Hidden Talent: Can break dance
Favorite Vacation Sports: Outer Banks, N.C.
Favorite Past Times: listen to music or watching Netflix (Prison Break)
Favorite Pump-Up Song: Just Like Fire - P!NK
Parents: Angel & Robin Gonzales
Siblings: Abby & Landon
Photo Credit: Maryland Athletics & Linnea Gonzales