Five Wildcats Named to Team USA Junior Pan Am Roster

Five Wildcats Named to Team USA Junior Pan Am Roster

7/21/2021 5:27:00 PM | Field Hockey

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Five Wildcats were selected to an 18-athlete roster as a part of the Team USA Women's National Field Hockey team that will be competing in the women's 2021 Junior Pan American Championship (JPAC) taking place in Santiago, Chile from August 21-28.

Northwestern's five selections led all collegiate programs, as Kayla Blas, Alia Marshall, Annabel Skubisz, Lauren Wadas and Maddie Zimmer all earned spots on the roster. The roster was narrowed down from 32 athletes that trained with the team this past June.

"Narrowing our squad down from 32 has been extremely difficult and highlighted the depth and talent we have," said U.S. U-21/22 Women's National Team Head Coach Tracey Paul. "There is a lot of potential in this team and I am very excited to see what this group of not only talented athletes but exceptional young women can bring in Chile. I think we have a balanced squad that poses a huge threat on attack alongside a strong defensive unit, and I am looking forward to seeing them perform at JPAC."

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This past season, Blas and Zimmer were named NFHCA All-Americans for the first time in their careers. Both also earned First-Team All-Big Ten selections, with Zimmer also taking home the Big Ten's Freshman of the Year award. Marshall has been a consistent contributor as a midfielder in each of the Wildcats last two seasons which culminated in trips to the NCAA Tournament, while Wadas and Skubisz each made an immediate impact as first years for the 'Cats in this past 2021 spring season.

At the 2016 JPAC, USA finished second behind Argentina. Qualifying for the FIH Hockey Junior World Cup they placed eighth out of the sixteen participating teams.

USA sits in Pool B with Chile and Trinidad and Tobago. They open against Trinidad and Tobago on Saturday, August 21 at 1:00 p.m. ET and play Chile on Sunday, August 22 at 1:00 p.m. ET.

The top three women's teams at the JPAC will qualify for the 2021 FIH Junior Hockey World Cup, set for December 5 to 16 in Potchefstroom, South Africa.