Emily Nicholls Named to U.S. U-21 Women's National Team
Feb 12 | Field Hockey
PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Rutgers field hockey goalkeeper Emily Nicholls was selected as a member of the U.S. U-21 Women's National Team by USA Field Hockey. Nicholls was selected for the roster after being invited to compete at two Junior National Camps by USA Field Hockey.
The team will train at UNC-Charlotte from March 6 to 8 after which the final roster will be selected for the 2026 Junior Pan American Championship, which takes place from April 7 to 18 in Santiago, Chile. Top teams from the 2026 JPAC will qualify for the 2027 FIH Hockey Women's Junior World Cup.
After a May training camp in May, selected members of the U-21 USWNT will compete in a 4 Nations Tournament from July 7 to 15 in England. Non-traveling members of the U21-USWNT will compete in the Senior Nexus Championship in Virginia Beach, Va.
Nicholls completed an excellent redshirt freshman campaign 'On the Banks' this past season. The goalkeeper from Haddon Heights, N.J. was named to the Big Ten All-Freshman Team after posting a 1.61 goals-against-average and 78.8% save percentage with 108 saves.
The Camden Catholic product was second in Big Ten in 6.0 saves per game and third in Big Ten (sixth nationally) in save percentage and had the most saves in a season for any RU goalkeeper under head coach Meredith Civico. That marked the most stops for a RU goalkeeper since Rosalyn Wentko had 127 in the 2006 season.
"This is a high-potential young squad blending high school athletes, first-year collegiate players, and experienced returners," said Ange Bradley, U-21 USWNT Head Coach. "Many are stepping into a new level of speed, physicality, and intensity. Our environment will challenge them to take ownership of their development, raise their standards, and accelerate their growth as we prepare to qualify for the 2027 Junior World Cup."
Nicholls is the second Scarlet Knight goalkeeper under head coach Meredith Civico to be selected to play with the U.S. U-21 team. Previously, Gianna Glatz was selected to the squad in January of 2019. Glatz traveled to Germany for a tour with the U-21 team in April of 2019 and later travelled to Chile in 2021 to play for Team USA at the Junior Pan American Championships.
The team will train at UNC-Charlotte from March 6 to 8 after which the final roster will be selected for the 2026 Junior Pan American Championship, which takes place from April 7 to 18 in Santiago, Chile. Top teams from the 2026 JPAC will qualify for the 2027 FIH Hockey Women's Junior World Cup.
After a May training camp in May, selected members of the U-21 USWNT will compete in a 4 Nations Tournament from July 7 to 15 in England. Non-traveling members of the U21-USWNT will compete in the Senior Nexus Championship in Virginia Beach, Va.
Nicholls completed an excellent redshirt freshman campaign 'On the Banks' this past season. The goalkeeper from Haddon Heights, N.J. was named to the Big Ten All-Freshman Team after posting a 1.61 goals-against-average and 78.8% save percentage with 108 saves.
The Camden Catholic product was second in Big Ten in 6.0 saves per game and third in Big Ten (sixth nationally) in save percentage and had the most saves in a season for any RU goalkeeper under head coach Meredith Civico. That marked the most stops for a RU goalkeeper since Rosalyn Wentko had 127 in the 2006 season.
"This is a high-potential young squad blending high school athletes, first-year collegiate players, and experienced returners," said Ange Bradley, U-21 USWNT Head Coach. "Many are stepping into a new level of speed, physicality, and intensity. Our environment will challenge them to take ownership of their development, raise their standards, and accelerate their growth as we prepare to qualify for the 2027 Junior World Cup."
Nicholls is the second Scarlet Knight goalkeeper under head coach Meredith Civico to be selected to play with the U.S. U-21 team. Previously, Gianna Glatz was selected to the squad in January of 2019. Glatz traveled to Germany for a tour with the U-21 team in April of 2019 and later travelled to Chile in 2021 to play for Team USA at the Junior Pan American Championships.
Players Mentioned
GK
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