University of North Carolina Athletics
Ryleigh Heck, Charly Bruder, Kiersten Thomassey and Katie Dixon helped the U.S. to gold on Tuesday in Barbados.
Four Tar Heels Earn Gold In Barbados
April 19, 2023 | Field Hockey
Four Tar Heels are returning from Barbados with gold medals.
Charly Bruder, Katie Dixon, Ryleigh Heck and Kiersten Thomassey were part of the 18-member U.S. U21 Women's Field Hockey National Team that won the Junior Pan American Championship on Tuesday, beating Argentina in a shootout. The score was tied 1-1 at the end of regulation and the U.S. team sealed the win with a 4-1 advantage in the shootout, with Heck hitting the first shootout goal to put her team up for good.
In addition to the gold medal, the U.S. earned itself a berth in the FIH Junior World Cup, scheduled for Dec. 6-17 in Santiago, Chile.
All JPAC action took place at the Sir Garfield Sobers Sports Complex in Saint Michael, Barbados.
The championship game was a rematch of the U.S. squad's first game of pool play, a 2-0 loss to Argentina on April 12. When the two faced off on Tuesday, the game was scoreless until both teams scored on third-quarter penalty corners. The U.S. scored on its first four shootout opportunities to seal the win.
Dixon, from Cary, N.C., and Thomassey, from Westerville, Ohio, were juniors on UNC's 2022 undefeated NCAA Championship team, each playing in all 21 games off the bench.
Heck, from Ocean City, N.J., was the 2022 Atlantic Coast Conference Freshman of the Year and ranked second on the team in scoring with 18 goals and two assists for the Tar Heels.
Bruder, from Malvern, Pa., is an incoming freshman who enrolled at UNC in January and has practiced with the team this spring.
The JPAC gold medal is just the second ever for the U.S. women. The other win came in 2008, with a win over Chile in Mexico City. Argentina won in 2012 and 2016 and Canada took gold in the last event, played in 2021.
After falling to Argentina, the U.S. women earned wins over Uruguay and Chile. For full results, click here.
Charly Bruder, Katie Dixon, Ryleigh Heck and Kiersten Thomassey were part of the 18-member U.S. U21 Women's Field Hockey National Team that won the Junior Pan American Championship on Tuesday, beating Argentina in a shootout. The score was tied 1-1 at the end of regulation and the U.S. team sealed the win with a 4-1 advantage in the shootout, with Heck hitting the first shootout goal to put her team up for good.
In addition to the gold medal, the U.S. earned itself a berth in the FIH Junior World Cup, scheduled for Dec. 6-17 in Santiago, Chile.
All JPAC action took place at the Sir Garfield Sobers Sports Complex in Saint Michael, Barbados.
The championship game was a rematch of the U.S. squad's first game of pool play, a 2-0 loss to Argentina on April 12. When the two faced off on Tuesday, the game was scoreless until both teams scored on third-quarter penalty corners. The U.S. scored on its first four shootout opportunities to seal the win.
Dixon, from Cary, N.C., and Thomassey, from Westerville, Ohio, were juniors on UNC's 2022 undefeated NCAA Championship team, each playing in all 21 games off the bench.
Heck, from Ocean City, N.J., was the 2022 Atlantic Coast Conference Freshman of the Year and ranked second on the team in scoring with 18 goals and two assists for the Tar Heels.
Bruder, from Malvern, Pa., is an incoming freshman who enrolled at UNC in January and has practiced with the team this spring.
The JPAC gold medal is just the second ever for the U.S. women. The other win came in 2008, with a win over Chile in Mexico City. Argentina won in 2012 and 2016 and Canada took gold in the last event, played in 2021.
After falling to Argentina, the U.S. women earned wins over Uruguay and Chile. For full results, click here.
Players Mentioned
Midfielder/Back
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Midfielder/Forward
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Midfielder
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