34 photos
MUSCAT, Oman - The No. 25 U.S. Men’s National Team followed up their opening win at the 2025 FIH Hockey Nations Cup 2 in Muscat, Oman with another strong performance to defeat the hosts, 4-0. A lone first quarter goal by Marius Leser was cushioned by three second half goals, including two from Player of the Match Sekayi Charasika.
After falling by a substantial scoreline in their previous game, Oman came into their second match with renewed passion, challenging USA in the opening quarter. The Wolves entered with a fire of their own, having recently upset No. 19 Austria, and retained poise to dominate possession. Five minutes in, Kei Kaeppeler made a run up the center of the field, then dished it right to an open Christian DeAngelis, who sent a ball across the cage. Marius Leser executed a one-time drive into the goal and gave USA a 1-0 lead.
The second frame was mostly quiet, as the Wolves did well to defend their lead but without an added conversion on attack. As the clock wound down, USA earned another penalty corner, but the shot by Jack Heldens was blocked, as well as the ensuing chances. Oman cleared the ball and were up in their attacking circle with just seconds to play, earning a penalty corner and a chance to tie the match before half. USA’s Jonathan Klages was up to the task – blocking the shot and allowing the Wolves to retain their lead at halftime.
Oman came out to the third quarter with a positive start, generating several circle penetrations in just the first few minutes, but were shut down by the USA defense each time. Finally, the red, white, and blue made it back onto the offensive, with Michael Barminski earning a penalty corner in the 37th minute. The shot from Charasika was stopped on the line by the foot of an Oman defender, giving USA a chance to double their lead with a penalty stroke. The chance, taken by Alberto Montilla, hit the post.
The concentration of both teams seemed to falter slightly in the final minutes of the third, leaving room for someone to step up. It would be the Wolves who met the challenge, starting when Heldens made a key tackle in the backfield. Heldens calmly fed the ball to DeAngelis, who sent it up to Charasika – who garnered a set piece chance for USA. Charasika’s shot hit a foot again, and on the retake, he sent a drag flick high into the cage that gave USA a 2-0 advantage heading into the final frame.
Early in the fourth quarter, Charasika tallied his second of the match and third of the tournament, finishing a shot from K. Kaeppeler that landed to the left of the post. The red, white and blue did not back down, with Henzor Motta dribbling through the Oman defense and scoring a low angle shot in the final minute, as USA won their second match of the FIH Nations Cup 2 by a score of 4-0.
At the conclusion of the game, Sekayi Charasika was named Player of the Match.
World Sport Pics
After a rest day, the Wolves will be back in action on Thursday, February 20 when they take on No. 21 Scotland at 7:45 a.m. ET. All matches from the event can be live streamed free on FIH.Hockey.
For more information on the 2025 FIH Hockey Nations Cup 2, visit the event page.
#FIHNationsCup
All photographs appearing on this site are property of USA Field Hockey/World Sport Pics. They are protected by the U.S. Copyright Laws, and are not to be downloaded, reproduced or used in any way without written permission of USA Field Hockey/World Sport Pics. If you are a college SID, club coach, sponsor or media outlet, email communications@usafieldhockey.com.
/Oman2)