Last evening, the final round of crossovers in the Junior Pan American Championships for field hockey occurred. Both the U.S. men’s and women’s teams played in consequential games to finish out their competitions, although one was more significant than the other.
On the women’s side, the States were playing for a place in history, trying to win the competition for a third straight time. Now, the Americans had played against their zone rival Argentina in pool play, and lost 3-0 to the Albicelestes only a week ago.
Despite that loss, the Americans had pretty much sewn up a 2025 Junior World Cup berth with their performances in the previous rounds. As there were four Pan American Hockey Federation berths on offer on the women’s side for the next JWC, the imperative for the States was to try to beat Argentina in last night’s final.
But the day did not go well for the Junior Eagles, as they fell two goals adrift in the first 10 minutes and, despite a Danielle Mendez-Trendler riposte in the 21st minute, could not find the equalizer, losing 3-1 to Argentina.
On the men’s side, however, yesterday’s bronze-medal match meant everything to the young United Wolves team. Only three Junior World Cup berths were on offer for the PAHF field, meaning the U.S. had to beat Chile to qualify for next year’s tournament.
The history for the U.S. in the JWC has not necessarily been the most positive experience since the men’s tournament was instituted in 1979. Since then, the United States has sent teams to the men’s JWC three times — 1989, 2009, and 2021. The highest finish for the Wolves was 11th in the team’s debut campaign 35 years ago.
The fourth time might have come yesterday with a couple of breaks. The U.S. had taken the lead in the second quarter thanks to a goal from Louisville Kentucky Country Day School (Ky.) graduate Sekayi Charasika on a penalty corner. That drag-flick goal stood until Chile equalized in the 35th minute. The two sides created numerous chances throughout the second half, but neither side found the telling goal.
In the shootout, the United States was unfortunate not to have scored on its first attempt, as Charasika’s opener was ruled out by VAR. Still, the States pulled level in the shootout 2-2 at the end of five attempts. In the sixth inning of shootouts, Chile put its attempt into the cage, while Charasika’s did not, giving Chile the bronze medal and a berth into the next men’s Junior World Cup.
The U.S. was that close to a World Cup berth even as the infrastructure for men’s field hockey in the United States has remained as rudimentary has it has been since the 1989 debut in the Junior World Cup. There are still no varsity boys’ field hockey teams in American high schools, and no varsity men’s field hockey teams in the NCAA.
Too, there are still zealots in school administration using outrage tactics to ban boys from playing the sport altogether.
It’s pretty much a miracle that the Junior Wolves made it this far with this kind of opposition.
