LANCASTER, Pa. - June 18, 2019 - This past week, more than 130 of the most elite female collegiate and post-collegiate athletes battled it out at the 2019 Young Women's National Championship (YWNC), where eight teams showcased their skills in front of coaches and selectors for an opportunity to advance within the Olympic Development Pathway.
7th/8th: Dream 2 - 2 Patriots
(Shootout 2 - 3)
The 7-8th place playoff between Dream and Patriots got day 4 underway and it was Dream that took the 1-0 lead into halftime thanks to an Elizabeth Romano (New Vernon, N.J.) backhand penalty corner strike which found the bottom corner. Five minutes into the second half, Pride drew level from a well worked penalty corner routine which saw Sophia Tornetta (Plymouth Meeting, Pa.) grab her first of the game. At the other end, Emma Provost (Swansboro, N.C.) saved well from a Dream penalty corner variation toward the end of the third quarter. All tied at one goal a piece, the game came alive in the final 5 minutes as first Bryn Boylan (Doylestown, Pa.) put Dream ahead from just inside the penalty spot before Tornetta again brought the Patriots back into it with a fine diving finish. Both teams created another chance in the closing stages but neither could find the winner. The shootout was as tight as the game with both goalkeepers, Rachel Gaines (Boone, N.C.) and Nina Klein (Topton, Pa.), making some solid saves. Romano and Olivia Sahaydak (Bethlehem, Pa.) both scored for Dream but it would not be enough as Erica Cooper (Louisville, Ky.), Tornetta and Kelsey Briddell (Wilton, N.Y.) registered goals for the Patriots who ran out 3-2 winners on the shootout to secure 7th place.
5th/6th: Courage 3 - 1 Pride
In the 5-6th place game, Pride got on the board first thanks to an exquisite lob from Molly McAndrew (Cherry Hill, N.J.) after 8 minutes of play. Pride had an early chance in the second quarter but from then on the lions share of the opportunities fell to Courage. After a couple of penalty corner opportunities, Emily Henry (Bethlehem, Pa.) produced a nice first time sweep over the goalkeeper but the ball did not come down in time as the it dropped over the bar. Corinne Zanolli (Newtown Square, Pa.) forced a pair of good saves from Noelle Frost (Glenwood, Md.) in the Pride goal before Virginia Bramley (Elizabethtown, Pa.) picked up the scraps from a broken penalty corner to bring Courage level just before the halftime break. In the second half, Courage took the lead thanks to a some nice interplay in the midfield which resulted in Leah Zellner (Emmaus, Pa.) deflecting home a pass from Bramley. Trailing going in to the closing minutes, Pride pulled their goalkeeper but were unable to get a goal back. Zanolli secured 5th place for Courage as she registered her third drag flick goal of the tournament into an empty net with 2 minutes to play.
Bronze: Freedom 2 - 1 Honor
In terms of chances, it was be a game of two halves in the YWNC Bronze Medal match. After an early penalty corner for Freedom, Honor took control of the first half as Margot Lawn (Pasadena, Md.) tested (Mohegan Lake, N.Y.) on a number of occasions but Halpin proved equal to the task. The pressure held though and after Julianna Tornetta (Plymouth Meeting, Pa.) won a penalty corner with 4 minutes to play in the half, Jordan Olenginski (Mountaintop, Pa.) scored from a Skyler Caron (Hampton, N.H.) delivery for a well deserved 1-0 lead. Both teams had chances in the second half but Freedom was the only one to capitalize. Kendall Ballard (Charlottesville, Va.) scored another drag flick goal, this time high to the goalkeeper's stick side after Megan Rodgers (San Diego, Calif.) showed some quick hands to earn the penalty corner. With 5.4 seconds to play in the third quarter, Erin Shanahan (Pasadena, Md.) showed some skill of her own but Giana Glatz (Medford, N.J.) denied Caron on the ensuing penalty corner. All tied up going into the final quarter it looked like shootouts might be required for the second time in the day but Rodgers put a halt to that thought as she slide one under the goalkeeper from close range. The final score was 2-1 as Freedom walked away with the Bronze Medal.
Gold: USA U-19 4 - 2 Spirit
The Gold Medal game between USA U-19 and Spirit proved to be an excellent ending to a great five days of competition at Spooky Nook Sports in Lancaster, Pa. The USA U-19 team came flying out of the traps as they found themselves 2-0 up after just 5 minutes of play thanks to goals from Riley Donnelly (Doylestown, Pa.) and Josie Varney (Smithfield, Maine). They would have had a third but Spirit's Sam Minrath (Louisville, Ky.) in goal was out quickly to deny M. Grace Wallis (Blue Bell, Pa.). Carrie Hanks (Niskayuna, N.Y.) came close to getting one back but her penalty corner strike was saved on the line by Bryn Zorilla (Vista, Calif.). As the half draw to a close, Jonna Kennedy (Watertown, Mass.) made an excellent double save after an initial shot from Greer Gill (Virginia Beach, Va.) was deflected in front of the USA U-19 goalkeeper. Carrera Lucas (Brookelandville, Md.) started the second half in goal for Spirit and was called upon early as she was forced to full extension to turn away a deflected penalty corner before also turning away another Donnelly drag flick. Spirit lived up to their name as they grabbed two goals in quick succession to tie the match up in the third quarter. After Haley Schleicher (Virginia Beach, Va.) and Emma Bozek (Cortlandt Manor, N.Y.) combined to score from a penalty corner in the same manner as they had done 24 hours prior, Schleicher then converted a penalty stroke after Bozek was brought down in the circle. Heading into the final quarter tied, again shootouts would not be required as a second drag flick goal from Donnelly was followed 30 seconds later by a neat waist high deflection from Megan Connors (San Diego, Calif.) who steered home the initial shot from Adele Iacobucci (Malvern, Pa.). The USA U-19 team had a couple of more chances as time wound down but they had to settle for the 4-2 win en route to being named the 2019 Young Women’s National Championship winner.
Final Standings
- USA U-19
- Spirit
- Freedom
- Honor
- Courage
- Pride
- Patriots
- Dream
Award Winners
Player of Tournament - Maddie Zimmer (USA U-19, Hershey, Pa.)
Emerging Player of Tournament - Brynn Zorilla (USA U-19, Vista, Calif.)
Goalkeeper of Tournament - Brie Barraco (USA U-19, Allentown, Pa.)
Onsite was USA Field Hockey's Event Photographer capturing some of the most intense moments at Spooky Nook Sports in Lancaster, Pa. Want the perfect image of your athlete competing? Click here to flip through USA Field Hockey's photographer Mark Palczewski's full YWNC gallery where you can purchase a variety of high-resolution prints.
USA Field Hockey would like to congratulate all athletes and coaches for an exciting five days of action at the 2019 YWNC.
First Place - USA U-19
Not in Order: Gabrielle Barracco (Allentown, Pa.), Megan Connors (San Diego, Calif.), Leah Crouse (Virginia Beach, Va.), Charlote De Vries (Wayne, Pa.), Emma DeBerdine (Millersville, Pa.), Lindsay Dickinson (Glen Mills,Pa.),Riley Donnelly (Doylestown, Pa.), Peyton Halsey (Reading, Pa.), Adele Iacobucci (Malvern, Pa.), Jonna Kennedy (Watertown, Mass.), Hannah Miller (Malvern, Pa.), Madison Orobono (Macungie, Pa.), Kathryn Peterson (San Diego, Calif.), Josie Varney (Smithfield, Maine), M. Grace Wallis (Blue Bell, Pa.), Paityn Wirth (Thompsontown, Pa.), Madeleine Zimmer (Hershey, Pa.), Head Coach Ole Keusgen, Assistant Coach: Tamara Durante
Second Place - Spirit
Not in Order: Carter Ayers (Wilmington, Del.), Emma Bozek (Cortlandt Manor, N.Y), Marissa Cicione (Havertown, Pa.), Mayv Clune (Quartertown, Pa.), Greer Gill (Virginia Beach, Va.), Carrie Hanks (Niskayuna, N.Y.), Biera Ho (Silver Spring, Md.), Olivia Hoover (Collegeville, Pa.), Carrera Lucas (Brookelandville, Md.), Mikayla Michals (Needham, Mass.), Samantha Minrath (Louisville, Ky.), Colleen Norair (Charlottesville, Va.), Ellen Payne (Oklahoma City, Okla.), Emily Peters (Lebanon, Pa.), Hailey Schleicher (Virginia Beach, Va.), Kassidy Shetler (Ramsey, N.J.), Clayre Smith (Honesdale, Pa.), Head Coach Roz Ellis, Assistant Coach Austin Pile
