'Scoring goals is not something I do often,’ Reagan Underwood on scoring both goals in 2023 Pan American gold-medal game

Six minutes. And, shootouts.

That’s what determined the outcome of the 2023 Junior Pan American Championship game. The U-21 USA Women’s National Field Hockey Team for the second time since the inception of the games won gold. USA broke the 1-1 regulation tie on April 18 in shootouts, landing four goals and allowing Argentina one.  

“One of our core values is ‘resilience,’ and the players demonstrated that in how well they withstood Argentina’s attack, especially in the last six minutes of the game, when we were a man down for five minutes,” team USA’s women’s U-21 head coach Tracey Paul said. “Our goalkeeper made some massive saves to keep the game tied. Another one of our core values is ‘brave,’ and our penalty corner defense was just that, especially the first runner. Our mentality is that a penalty corner against us is a counterattack scoring opportunity. Defenders have the mentality to win the ball and send it forward fast.”

Argentina’s unrelenting circle entry continuously pounded USA’s defense unapologetically preventing the American’s any time to set up. The United Eagles were only able to get the ball beyond the 25 and the 50 one time each throughout Argentina’s six-minute fourth-quarter advantageous offensive press.

“I think the first half, we were aware of what we were capable of and played to that standard,” USA goalie Annabel Skubisz said. “However, playing at that high standard for such an extended period of time requires mental and physical strength that this team has not yet had the time to develop, given the limited time we had together leading up to the tournament. We certainly fought until the final minute of the game, but it became more and more challenging. With Argentina on the cusp of a loss, they turned up their intensity and suddenly we were on the defense. Expending so much necessary energy on defense makes it tough to generate an immediate counterattack. Once the ball leaves our circle, we are just thankful to have a moment to breathe.”

Women's Pan American Junior Championship 2023 18/04/2023 Wildey, Sir Garfield Sports Complex, St. Michael, Barbados Match: W15 - Argentina v USA (Final) (Photo by WorldSportPics/Rodrigo Jaramillo)

Skubisz, of Houston, Texas, said she doesn’t know how many saves she had in the game. She immediately had to shift her thoughts at the end of regulation into rejecting Argentina’s polished shooters in overtime.  

“It would be a lie to say I was anything but nervous going into those shootouts,” the Northwestern University junior said. “It does not matter what the stakes are, shootouts are always very nerve racking. They put a spotlight on both players and are a prime moment for one player to embarrass another. When you make those shootouts determine the outcome of an International Qualifier, the stakes become almost unbearable. However, over the past few years, I have really worked on composure in high-pressured situations. I was confident my teammates would score what they needed to score. All I had to do was stay in between the ball and the goal for 8 seconds. Thankfully, my teammates were able to maneuver past the goalkeepers of Chile and Argentina, and we ended with the wins.”

Team USA earned its spot in the finale defeating Chile in shootouts. Shootouts, which are between one “shooter” and goalie, require one player to start at the 23-meter, enter the circle, and shoot in a 1 v 1 situation.

“Special play situations in major tournaments today determine the outcome of games so often that it is critical to practice them as much as possible,” Paul said. “We don’t get many training opportunities together, but at every practice we do shootouts. Shootouts are just not practiced as a standalone; they are also integrated into the small, sided games as a reward for a point, or as a tie breaker. I note who takes them against which goalkeeper. By the time of the semifinals, I had my top 8 players to choose from.”

The score was 0-0 at halftime. Argentina had the edge on penalty corners, having earned three to USA’s one.

Before returning to the pitch at Sir Garfield Sports Complex in Saint Michaels, Barbados, Paul said the team talked about “our focus points, and a couple of tactical reminders.” She wasn’t specific, but added, the team “spoke about what they needed to continue doing, one thing to start doing, and one thing to stop doing.”

When the game resumed, team USA was able to earn its second penalty corner. It was Pennsylvania native, and Wilson graduate, Reagan Underwood who connected with the ball redirecting it into the cage for the goal.

“When setting up for the corner, I knew where I had to be in order to help my team,” Underwood told FAN. “We had practiced where to set up for that corner a few times, so I was ready. I looked up and saw my teammate Jans Croon getting ready to sweep the ball. I just made sure I had my stick down and got a touch on it. I got a touch on it and was excited when the ball rolled into the goal. I knew I set up well, but scoring goals is not something I do often, so I wasn’t expecting me to be the one to do it. I didn’t feel the goal before it went in, but once I made the touch and saw it behind the defender, I realized that it was a goal.”

Women's Pan American Junior Championship 2023 18/04/2023 Wildey, Sir Garfield Sports Complex, St. Michael, Barbados Match: W15 - Argentina v USA (Final) (Photo by WorldSportPics/Rodrigo Jaramillo)

The junior team’s performance during the first, second, and third quarters was patient and skillful. The team’s athleticism and love for the game was evident. There were runs along the sidelines, where players like Oliva Bent-Cole showed off fake outs. Leaders like Lauren Wadas broke out of the backfield dishing quick passes to fast forwards.

While the American’s were having fun, Argentina’s well-known competitive drive showed up. On the Lionesses ninth corner, Valentina Raposo (a 2020 Olympic silver medalist) squeezed her shot into the cage making the score 1-1.

“Once we scored, the team stopped playing with the front foot mentality and started focusing on winning rather than on their performance and the process,” Paul said. “They started to play tight and tentative, making a lot of unforced errors.”

Under immense pressure, Underwood, a junior at Liberty, dropped back as a midfielder to support USA’s defense. She had a pivotal drive out of the backfield.

“In the fourth, I was just thinking about protecting our goal and keeping us in the game,” she said. “We were tied and they were really pushing to score, so it was really important to keep them out of the circle and have composed defense. I am glad I had a good hit out of the backfield to get the ball upfield to my teammates. Any moment where we got the ball out of our half helped to release some of the pressure we were feeling from Argentina.”

It then came down to shootouts. USA’s Ryleigh Heck (Berlin, New Jersey), Abigail Tamer (Whitemore Lake, Michigan), Wadas (Annville, Pennsylvania), and Underwood (Sinking Spring, Pennsylvania) all found the cage in that order. Skubisz denied three Argentinian shooters. The fifth shooter didn’t have to shoot.

“In both of those moments, I am very thankful that I was able to be the closer, but I was just thankful more so for my team,” Underwood said. “In both of those moments, my success would not have been possible if it hadn’t been for the teammates, who all did their job before me. On the corner, my teammates executed their roles perfectly, in order for me to make the tip in the goal. In the shootouts, all three girls before me scored and our goalkeeper Annabel Skubisz was a wall and did a fantastic job protecting the goal. My moment doesn't come if my teammates don't do their job as well. Any victory I have is 100 percent a team victory.”