USA’s 14-year-old Reese D’Ariano scored two goals on the opening day of the FIH Indoor World Cup in South Africa.
D’Ariano recorded a brace on debut in USA women’s 4-2 defeat to Australia in Pretoria.
“I go to my club seven days a week and I do school online,” said the West Chester Eagles teen. “It’s hard but it’s all worth it in the end.”
Elsewhere, Netherlands opened up their campaign with an 11-0 win over New Zealand.
In other opening day results in the men’s tournament, Iran lost out 5-4 to Argentina while hosts South Africa drew 3-3 with Australia.
England and Germany teams across men and women are not competing at the World Cup.
The 2023 IHWC was set to take place in February 2022 in Liège, Belgium but was cancelled due to Covid. Organisers were unable to book the hall again before Pretoria stepped in.
The indoor World Cup runs until Feb 11. Austria men and Germany women won the 2018 editions.