Four Cavaliers Win Gold at Junior Pan Ams

BARBADOS – Current Virginia field hockey student-athletes Jans Croon, Madison Orsi and Daniela Mendez-Trendler and incoming freshman Mia Abello helped lead the U.S. U-21 Women’s National Team to a gold medal at the 2023 Junior Pan American Championship on Tuesday (April 18) at the Wildey Hockey Centre in Saint Michael, Barbados.

Team USA topped Argentina in a shootout to secure the gold.

The team qualifies to compete in the FIH Junior World Cup, which is being held December 1-17 in Santiago, Chile.

This is the second-ever gold medal for the American squad at the tournament, replicating the 2008 team’s finish.

The American squad opened the tournament with a 2-0 loss to Argentina in pool play, but topped Uruguay 4-1 to advance out of the pool into the semifinals where they defeated Chile in a shootout 2-0. After the championship was knotted 1-1 at the end of regulation, Team USA went 4-for-4 in the shootout to win 4-1 against the perennial powerhouse Argentina.

“Qualifying for the Junior World Cup and winning gold were the two goals this team set for themselves,” said U-21 USWNT Head Coach Tracey Paul. “They got it done. Throughout the tournament the team showed growth, effort and when needed – resilience. Congratulations to all.”

All four Cavaliers appeared in all four games. Mendez-Trendler scored a goal in the victory against Uruguay.