Rutgers’ Emily Nicholls Earns Spot on U.S. U-21 Field Hockey National Team
PISCATAWAY, N.J. - Rutgers field hockey just added another name to its growing list of national-level talent. Redshirt freshman goalkeeper Emily Nicholls has been selected to the U.S. U-21 Women’s National Team, a major step in her young but already impressive career.
Nicholls earned her spot on the roster after competing at two Junior National Camps hosted by USA Field Hockey. Now, she’s set to join the U-21 squad for training at UNC-Charlotte from March 6 to 8.
That camp will serve as the final proving ground before the team is trimmed down for the 2026 Junior Pan American Championship in Santiago, Chile, running from April 7 to 18. The stakes are high - top finishers at the JPAC will punch their ticket to the 2027 FIH Hockey Women’s Junior World Cup.
But that’s just part of the journey. After the spring training block, the U-21 squad will reconvene in May, followed by a 4 Nations Tournament in England from July 7 to 15 for those selected to travel. Players who don’t make that trip will still get high-level competition, taking part in the Senior Nexus Championship in Virginia Beach, Va.
For Nicholls, this national team nod is the latest milestone in a breakout collegiate campaign. She made a name for herself this past season with Rutgers, earning a spot on the Big Ten All-Freshman Team.
Her numbers speak volumes: a 1.61 goals-against average, 78.8% save percentage, and 108 total saves. That save total wasn’t just good - it was historic.
Under head coach Meredith Civico, no RU goalkeeper had ever posted more in a single season. In fact, you have to go all the way back to 2006 to find a Scarlet Knight keeper with more saves in a season - Rosalyn Wentko, who tallied 127.
Nicholls, a Camden Catholic High School alum from Haddon Heights, N.J., finished second in the Big Ten in saves per game (6.0) and ranked third in the conference - sixth nationally - in save percentage. Her ability to anchor the backline and deliver under pressure has quickly made her one of the most promising young goalkeepers in the college game.
U-21 Head Coach Ange Bradley sees big things ahead for this group. “This is a high-potential young squad blending high school athletes, first-year collegiate players, and experienced returners,” Bradley said.
“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 now becomes the second goalkeeper under Civico to earn a spot on the U.S. U-21 roster. The last was Gianna Glatz, who joined the team in 2019, traveled to Germany for a spring tour, and later represented Team USA at the Junior Pan American Championships in Chile in 2021.
For Rutgers, it’s another sign that the program is developing elite-level talent. For Nicholls, it’s a well-earned opportunity to take her game to the international stage. And for Team USA, it’s a chance to add a rising star to a squad aiming to make some serious noise on the world stage.