University of Delaware Athletics
Three Blue Hens Selected To The Senior Nexus Championship
6/29/2023 3:34:00 PM | Field Hockey
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – USA Field Hockey announced the athletes selected to compete in the 2023 Senior Nexus Championship in Virginia Beach as the list included three Blue Hens with recent graduate Ashlyn Carr, sophomore Kylie Walbert, and freshman Rachael Whitehead all representing the 302. The event is presented by Osaka Hockey and will be played at the Virginia Beach Regional Training Center from July 11-16.
Formerly known as the Young Women's National Championship, the Senior NXC is held annually and features 144 elite high school, collegiate and post-collegiate athletes. During the spring and early summer, athletes tried and trained at one of the seven USA Field Hockey High Performance Centers throughout the country for an opportunity to be selected to the Senior NXC, a step along the Olympic Development Pathway program. All athletes that were previously named to the U.S. U-18, U-21, and Development Women's National Teams were also included within the selection.
Carr, a Delmar, Del. native finished her collegiate career as both a CAA First Team member and an NFHCA Division I Mid-Atlantic All-Region First Team member and was named the 2022 CAA Tournament MVP.
Walbert, a Leesburg, Va. native, will be a goalkeeper for the Blue Hens in the fall after completing her freshman campaign with the 2022 National Champion UNC Tar Heels. While at UNC, Walbert appeared in 18 of the Tar Heels 21 games, making nine starts. She tallied 12 saves and boasted an 8-0 record.
Whitehead, a native of Hockessin, Del., played at The Tatnall School before she arrived on campus in the spring as a grey-shirt. Whitehead spent time playing for the U-18 USA team where she was afforded the opportunity to play in Utrecht, Netherlands and Antwerp, Belgium as Team USA competed in its tour back in April. In the fall, Whitehead looks to contribute in the Hens midfield and defensive back.
The event will start with a team training session on Tuesday, July 11 with games starting on Wednesday, July 12. The opportunity to be selected for the 2023-24 U.S. Women's National Team and Junior USWNT Selection Camps are at stake.
