Liberty’s Reagan Underwood competes for Team USA in Junior Panamerican Championships

Liberty’s Reagan Underwood and USA Field Hockey brought home the gold medal at the Junior Pan American Championship (JPAC) after defeating field hockey’s perennial powerhouse, Argentina, in a dramatic shootout. 

Underwood was one of 18 players chosen to represent the stars and stripes on the national team based on her performance at a Pre-JPAC Preparation Camp in mid-March. From April 10-18 in Barbados, Underwood and USA Field Hockey competed against six other countries for the coveted title of Junior Pan American Champion. For the first time since 2008, that title belongs to the USA. 

After falling to Argentina in the group stage by a whopping score of 7-0, the USA conquered the field hockey giants when it mattered — in the championship game. 

“There is something about being part of a really cool moment that’s just so special. To know that the effort you put in led to something great is unbelievable,” Underwood said. “We beat Argentina — the No. 2 team in the world.”

Underwood, a starter in the gold medal match, knocked in the first and only goal of the game for the Americans. With the score tied at 1-1, the match went into a best-of-five penalty shootout. After the USA went up 3-1, all eyes turned to Underwood to send America home with the gold medal in hand. 

“We had just done shootouts the game before against Chile, and (the coaching staff) picked five people for that, and I was not selected in that group,” Underwood said. “They were going through the line-up of people. They listed off the first, second and third person, and all of a sudden, I’m the fourth. I had no idea, but I knew in that moment that I had to do this.” 

Though pressure and nerves set in, confidence and skill took over. With the championship in her grasp, Underwood swerved and spun to slide past the Argentina goalkeeper to score a career-defining goal for her country. 

“I did the one move that usually works, and I could hear (the goalkeeper) slip on the turf, and that’s when I knew I beat her,” Underwood said. “My goal was then to just get it in. I turned and scored, and it was nuts. It was insane.”

Ecstatically jumping into the air, Underwood was embraced by a swarm of teammates she met only weeks ago. However, for Underwood, this historic and dramatic upset meant more than just a gold medal. 

Time and time again, the Liberty rising senior emphasized God’s hand over the entire situation. Before her winning penalty shot, Underwood joined forces with teammate and fellow Christian, Katie Dixon, a junior midfielder out of North Carolina, to pray. 

“I can tell you right now that God’s hand was on that game,” Underwood said. “I have to be conscious that any of my success all points back to God … I wouldn’t even be able to do half of the stuff I do if it wasn’t for God giving me the ability to run and play and communicate and even get me into a spot where I am in that position and have the privilege to be able to take that shot and score.”

Winning the JPAC may rank high on the many things Underwood has accomplished, but as a Flame, success on the hockey field is an incomplete picture of what makes Underwood special. Going into her fourth season on the Mountain, the rising senior has cemented a legacy of determination and kindness among her teammates and coaches. 

“Reagan is so successful on the field because she works to become 1% better than she was the day before. She always gives 100% of what she has, and it shows day in and day out,” Liberty field hockey goalkeeper Alyssa Maryanapolis said. “Not only is she amazing with a stick and ball, but she is an even more incredible teammate. She is always holding others accountable and looking out for you if you’re having a rough day. I count it a blessing to play alongside Reagan here at Liberty … There is a lot more I could say about her and how great she truly is.”

“Reagan’s growth over the past 12 months as both a leader and hockey player are nothing short of exceptional,” Liberty Head Coach Nikki Parsley-Blocker said. “Reagan came in with a high ceiling and has taken full advantage of every opportunity to grow. Due to her trajectory, I am not surprised by her ability to execute under high pressure on a big stage. Proud is certainly an understatement in this case.” 

The rising senior out of Pennsylvania, now a solidified leader on the Liberty field hockey squad, looks to guide her team to a third consecutive Big East championship this fall. Underwood also hopes to join Team USA again at the 2023 FIH Junior Hockey World Cup, scheduled for Dec. 6-17 in Santiago, Chile, in the quest for another gold medal. 

Rivas is a sports reporter for the Liberty Champion. Follow him on Twitter