Croon Wins FIH Hockey5s World Cup Challenger Trophy with Team USA

MUSCAT, Oman – Virginia field hockey junior Jans Croon was one of 10 athletes to represent the United States at the inaugural FIH Hockey5s World Cup January 24-27 in Muscat, Oman.

The United Eagles began pool play with a 6-1 win against Namibia, with Croon scoring the United State’s fourth goal of the game. Losses against India and Poland kept the team from advancing out of pool play and into the quarterfinals, but gave them the opportunity to compete in crossover matches. Team USA tallies a 3-0 win against Paraguay and an 8-4 victory against Australia to advance to face Namibia again in the 9-10 match. The United Eagles won 2-0 to secure the ninth-place finish and the Challenger Trophy.

Croon is one of five players on the roster who helped the team earn gold at the 2023 Hockey5s Pan American Cup in June. Croon is also a member of the US U21 Junior National Team and competed at the Junior World Cup in November in Santiago, Chile.

Croon has 13 international caps with the USWNT in Hockey5s.

Hockey 5s is a small-sided outdoor game introduced by the International Hockey Federation (FIH) in 2014 that is played with four players and a goalkeeper per side. It is a fast small-sided game that uses specially designed boards that surround the perimeter of the field and keep the ball in play. Regulation games last 20 minutes.