COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - September 5, 2016 - Bring to mind the pressure associated with high-intensity hockey games, the kind that demand precision and all-out heart and hustle in order to advance to conference playoffs. Do you have that exact feeling queued up? Now triple it. During their high school and collegiate seasons, eight U.S. U-21 Women's National Team athletes are vying for a spot on the women's Hockey Junior World Cup 2016 (JWC) roster. On top of hitting peak performances for their respective fall programs, these athletes will be graded on another scale needing to further prove themselves as the U-21 USWNT coaching staff keeps tabs on their games in order to finalize the remaining four slots left on the JWC roster by end of September. Set to take place in Santiago, Chile and with more than half the team confirmed, we have highlighted the eight athletes still up for consideration.
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MADDIE BACSKAI Highlights: A furious comeback fell just short as the No. 15 Princeton field hockey team dropped a 2-1 decision to the No. 1 UNC on Friday afternoon at Bedford Field. Trailing 2-0, junior Ryan McCarthy found some open space and drilled one past UNC's goalkeeper with 1:27 to go. A green card was awarded to a UNC player setting up one final corner opportunity for Princeton as time expired. Freshman Carlotta von Gierke found fellow Bacskai, who blasted a shot high, but UNC's goalkeeper made the save. Five different players scored on Sunday as the Princeton took down the Bucknell Bison, 5-2. Next Game: Friday, September 9 vs. No. 9 Albany |
 KRISTY BERNATCHEZUniversity of North Carolina | Senior | Defender Belgrade, Maine Highlights: The Tar Heels opened up the season ranked No. 1 in the National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) Preseason Poll. Though they fell to No. 10 Michigan in their season opener, they bounced back in the second game of the ACC/Big Ten Challenge to secure a 4-1 victory over Iowa. Off of a penalty corner, Bernatchez scored the first goal for the Tar Heels after she made the insertion, hustled in to tip the ball in the cage. UNC closed the first half with a goal and then added another midway through the second half to earn a 2-1 win Friday afternoon at No. 15 Princeton. On Sunday afternoon, Bernatchez scored twice to lead UNC to a 6-2 win at Penn at Ellen Vagelos . The Tar Heels improved to 3-1 on the season with their highest scoring total of the fall. Next Game: Saturday, September 10 vs. No. 7 Wake Forest* 1 p.m. EST | Chapel Hill, N.C. | ACC Network Extra |
 CAT CAROPrinceton University | Senior | Midfield/Forward Bridgewater, N.J. Highlights: A furious comeback fell just short as the No. 15 Princeton field hockey team dropped a 2-1 decision to the No. 1 UNC on Friday afternoon at Bedford Field. Five different players scored on Sunday as the Princeton took down the Bucknell Bison, 5-2. Off a penalty corner in the 31st minute, Caro found the back of the cage to extend the lead to 2-0. Next Game: Friday, September 9 vs. No. 9 Albany 4 p.m. EST | Princeton, N.J. | Ivy League Digital Network |
 BROOKE DEBERDINEPenn Manor High School | Senior Highlights: DeBerdine is the only athlete up for consideration that is still in high school. As a junior at Penn Manor she helped lead the team to a District Three Class AAA Silver and a State semifinal berth last year. As a member of the U.S.U-19 Women's National Team, she traveled with the squad to Bad Breuznach, Germany where they competed in three matches against Germany's U-18 Women's National Team. College: Deberdine is committed to play at the University of Maryland in the fall 2017. Next Game: Friday, September 9 vs. Manheim Township H.S. 4 p.m. EST | Millersville, Pa. |
 LINNEA GONZALEZUniversity of Maryland | Sophomore | Forward Bel Air, Md. Highlights: The No. 6 ranked Maryland field hockey team opened its 2016 season with a 6-2 win at Saint Joseph’s in the Conference Cup in Philadelphia, Pa. After controlling the first half of the second Conference Cup game on Sunday, the Terps faltered in the second half to ultimately fall to No. 2 Syracuse, 4-1. In the BIG Ten ACC Cup held in Lancaster, Pa., the Terps fell to No. 4 Duke, 1-0, Friday Night. Maryland controlled much of the game offensively, but Duke’s goalkeeping kept them from finding the net. On Sunday, the Terps scored twice late to beat No. 8 Boston College, 3-1. Next Game: Saturday, September 10 vs. California 11 a.m. EST | College Park, Md. | BTN Plus |
 CARRIE HANKSUniversity of Maryland | Junior | Defender Niskayuna, N.Y. Highlights: The No. 6 ranked Maryland field hockey team opened its 2016 season with a 6-2 win at Saint Joseph’s in the Conference Cup in Philadelphia, Pa. After controlling the first half of the second Conference Cup game on Sunday, the Terps faltered in the second half to ultimately fall to No. 2 Syracuse, 4-1. In the BIG Ten ACC Cup held in Lancaster, Pa., the Terps fell to No. 4 Duke, 1-0, Friday Night. Maryland controlled much of the game offensively, but Duke’s goalkeeping kept them from finding the net.On Sunday, the Terps scored twice late to beat No. 8 Boston College, 3-1. Assisting on the first goal in the 16th minute was Hanks who sent Welma Luus a ball that she backhanded into the lower part of the goal. Next Game: Saturday, September 10 vs. California 11 a.m. EST | College Park, Md. | BTN Plus |
 SARAH HEGLESONStanford University | Freshman | Midfield Lancaster, Pa. Highlights: Opening the season ranked No. 11, Stanford met No. 3 Connecticut. The Cardinals found itself in an early deficit as the Huskies were able to put one in by the 8th minute of action. In the second half, the story remained the same until the 58th minute when Helgeson sent a penalty corner in that Jessica Welch buried into the UConn goal to make it 1-1. A late goal with time winding down lifted No. 3 UConn past Stanford, 2-1. On Friday afternoon, the Cardinal offense came out aggressive in the second half, with Stanford outshooting the visiting No. 10 Wolverines nine-to-six on the day, but Michigan held on to take a 2-1 win. In a meeting with Kent State on Sunday, Welch scored twice as a red-hot team effort in the second half saw the Cardinal blow past the visiting Golden Flashes 5-1. Next Game: Saturday, September 10 vs. No. 8 Boston College 11 a.m. EST | Syracuse, N.Y. |
 MEG MILLERUniversity of Richmond | Junior | Forward Palmyra, Pa. Highlights: The University of Richmond field hockey team fell, 3-1 to American University in the team’s season opener. After trailing 2-0, the Spiders had a flurry of fired off shots that were blocked until Miller found an opening to cut American's lead. Her goal marked the second consecutive season she scored a goal in the season opener, she did the same last season against American. Two days later they played Drexel where Richmond came out firing for a 4-1 victory. Richmond registered their first shutout of the season with a 1-0 victory over Ball State on Saturday afternoon. Miller registered three shots in the game. On Sunday, the Spiders fell 5-1 to No. 12 Louisville. Next Game: Friday, September 9 vs. No. 19 Old Dominion 3 p.m. | Richmond, Va. | A-10 Network |
Fourteen athletes of the JWC team were announced at the beginning of August. The established squad thus far includes: Kelsey Bing (Houston, Texas), Ashley Hoffman (Mohnton, Pa.), Laura Hurff (Newark, Del.), Amanda Magadan (Randolph, N.J.), Erin Matson (Chadds Ford, Pa.), Gab Major (Royersford, Pa.), Lauren Moyer (York, Pa.), Margaux Paolino (Villanova, Pa.), Jenny Rizzo (Hershey, Pa.), Julianna Tornetta (Plymouth Meeting, Pa.), Sophia Tornetta (Plymouth Meeting, Pa.), Tara Vittese (Cherry Hill, N.J.), Nicole Woods (Beverly, Mass.) and Julia Young (Yorktown, Va.).
The U-21 USWNT continues to make progress as they prepare to show their potential on the world stage November 23 - December 4, 2016 wearing red, white and blue. Consider supporting their Rally U.S. to the Cup campaign. All funds raised will be used to help supply coverage of travel, meals, medical treatment and more for the U-21 USWNT. Click here to donate.
Follow the progress of many of the U.S. U-21 Women's National Team athletes during their school and collegiate season as well as stay tuned to usafieldhockey.com as the final roster for the women's JWC will be announced at the end of September. #rallyUStothecup #SQUAD
The U-21 USWNT is eager to tackle the upcoming months of preparation and ready to show their potential on the world stage November 23 - December 4, 2016 wearing red, white and blue. Consider supporting their Rally U.S. to the Cup campaign. All funds raised will be used to help supply coverage of travel, meals, medical treatment and more for the U-21 USWNT. Click here to donate.
Follow the progress of many of the U.S. U-21 Women's National Team athletes during their school and collegiate season as well as stay tuned to usafieldhockey.com as the the final roster for the women's JWC will be announced at the end of September. #rallyUStothecup #SQUAD
Fourteen athletes have already been named to the JWC roster, with four remaining spots being filled at the end of September. Here is the current squad, Kelsey Bing(Houston, Texas), Ashley Hoffman (Mohnton, Pa.), Laura Hurff (Newark, Del.), Amanda Magadan (Randolph, N.J.), Erin Matson (Chadds Ford, Pa.) Gab Major(Royersford, Pa.), Lauren Moyer (York, Pa.), Margaux Paolino (Villanova, Pa.), Jenny Rizzo (Hershey, Pa.), Julianna Tornetta (Plymouth Meeting, Pa.), SophiaTornetta (Plymouth Meeting, Pa.), Tara Vittese (Cherry Hill, N.J.), Nicole Woods (Beverly Mass.) and Julia Young (Yorktown, Va.)