EASTON, Pa. – Lafayette field hockey's Amanda Magadan Golini '17 helped the U.S. Women's National Field Hockey Team punch its ticket to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games through the FIH Hockey Olympic Qualifier on Thursday morning.

The qualifying event will take place from Jan. 13-19 with eight teams competing in two pools in Ranchi, India. Countries involved in this year's tournament are Germany, India, New Zealand, Japan, Chile, Italy, the Czech Republic and the United States.

The teams that finish in the top-3 of each of the four FIH Hockey Olympic Qualifiers 2024 tournaments will seal their qualification to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games beginning in July.

The United Eagles fought through three shutout matches earlier this week, knocking off India, Italy and New Zealand in Pool B, to earn a spot against Japan in the semifinal round.

Japan struck first with a penalty corner goal in the 35^th minute by Amiru Shimada. It took Team USA to the final period to score an equalizer with Golini kickstarting an opportunity for Ashley Hoffman to tie the game. With three minutes remaining on the clock, the United Eagles capitalized on a five-minute Japan yellow card to collect the game-winning rebound shot following a penalty corner scrum.

Team USA now advances to the finals, facing Germany on Jan. 19 at 9 a.m. Fans are encouraged to watch live on CBS Sports Network or pay-per-view on Watch.Hockey.

Golini played four years in the midfield for the Maroon and White from 2013-17, earning All-Patriot League honors each of her final three seasons, including first-team laurels as a junior and senior. A native of Randolph, N.J., she led the Leopards in scoring in 2015 and 2016 with 10 and eight goals, respectively, leading to First-Team All-Region accolades in both seasons and a Third-Team All-America honor in 2016.


For the latest on the Lafayette College field hockey program, follow the Leopards on Twitter @LafayetteFH and Instagram @lafayette_fh.

Photo Credit: USA Field Hockey and World Sport Pics