WC Eagles Claim Gold at 2024 U-16 Girls National Club Championship

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – An elite group of twenty-four U-16 club teams traveled to the Virginia Beach Regional Training Center and Princess Anne Athletic Complex in Virginia Beach, Va. for the 2024 U-16 Girls National Club Championship (NCC), presented by YOLO Sportswear.

After three days of fierce competition, reigning national champion WC Eagles defended their title with a victory over runner-up Central Penn Field Hockey (CPFH). It was a fun few days in the heat, with participants taking tons of team photos, shopping at YOLO Sportswear, and getting excited for the Paris 2024 Olympics alongside playing in matches.

WC Eagles claimed gold in emphatic fashion, taking down CPFH 9-0 in the final. It was Reese D’Ariano (West Chester, Pa.) who got the scoring started, nailing a reverse shot just 45 seconds into the match. The lead was doubled halfway through the quarter when Kiera Sack (Havertown, Pa.) finished a ball in off the post after D’Ariano’s penalty corner shot trickled through. D’Ariano’s next penalty corner chance went in, bringing WC Eagles’ lead to 3-0 with 5 minutes left to play in the first quarter. Peyton Esposito (Wayne, Pa.) notched the fourth of the quarter when she tipped in a lifted ball from Camilla Lutte (Lower Gwynedd, Pa.).

With a stout defense, midfield, and attacking line to support her, D’Ariano tallied five more goals in the three remaining quarters to propel WC Eagles to their 9-0 victory. One minute into the second quarter, D’Ariano found the cage with another reverse hit, then added with a straight penalty corner shot with two minutes left in the first half.  Four minutes left in the third quarter, D’Ariano weaved through the defense to make it 7-0, scored on a penalty corner shot in the fourth quarter, then finished with another set piece shot with time expired.

It was also a strong win for Windy City who took home the bronze medal with a 4-0 victory over AGH. It was with two minutes to play in the first quarter that Ella Beach (Northbrook, Ill.) scored off a reverse hit to make it 1-0, Windy City. Four minutes into the second frame, Katherine St. Amand (Lake Forest, Ill.) drove the ball baseline and found Sarah Anetsberger (Glencoe, Ill.) at the stroke mark to bring the lead up to 2-0. A penalty stroke taken by Lilly Cimaroli (Glencoe, Ill.) in the remaining seconds before halftime put Windy City up 3-0. Beach scored her second of the match in the fourth quarter, tapping the ball in with the assist from Kingsley Goldman (Chicago, Ill.)

USA Field Hockey would like to congratulate all of this year's U-16 Girls National Club Championship teams, athletes and coaches who participated! As well as thank the umpires, technical staff, umpire managers and volunteers who continue to make NCC a success.

The National Club Championship will conclude with the U-19 age division this weekend.

(In alphabetical order)

Karys Craver, Reese D'Ariano, Sunday Draper, Haley Elliott, Peyton Esposito, Sofia Ferri, Arianna  Fragomeni, Cheyenne Greene, Ella Horner, Genevieve Huston, Kendall Longenberger, Camilla Lutte, Maeve McGinley, Morgan O'Donnell,  Elise Reagan, Piper Reibsane, Atia Sabbagh, Kiera Sack, Isabella Sanchez, Jack Shaw, Maura Simpson, Claire Turner

Head Coach: Stuart Kentwell

(In alphabetical order)

Madison Bell, Miley Brezgel, Callie Brouse, Keairah Dykes, Jaxin Frazer, Courtney Heltzel, Olivia Hess,  Isabella Hockenberry, Alexis Hunter, Marissa Muza, Liberty Olivetti, Mary Olivetti, Abbie Roush, Olivia Schweighart, Juliana Serafin, Tori Snyder,  Kayla Weldon, Cara Zapach

Head Coach: Belinda Heltzel

(In alphabetical order)

Lina Alberts, Sarah Anetsberger, Ella Beach, Eloise Breen, Kayla Chudgar, Lilly Cimaroli, Nora Colgan, Caroline Dellin, Caroline Gaines, Ashley Goettsche, Kingsley Goldman, Avery Halack, Caroline Kotz, Abigail Krasaeath, Elizabeth McCalla, Natalie Paul, Sonia Pettinelli, Megan Ross, Katherine St. Amand, Sophie Wenk

Head Coach: Molly Schriver Sarhage

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