Melissa

Gonzalez

Quick Facts

Daughter of Felix and Yolanda Gonzalez

Career Highlights

• 2018: Retired from the U.S. Women's National Team with 241 international caps
• 2018: Series against The Netherlands (Palo Alto, Calif.), Series against Canada (Chula Vista, Calif.), Series against Chile (Lancaster, Pa.), Series against Argentina (Tucuman, Argentina)
• 2017 : The Hawke's Bay Cup (4th, Hawke's Bay, New Zealand), Series against Ireland (Lancaster, Pa.), Named MVP of Series against Ireland, International Festival of Hockey (4th, Melbourne, Australia), Named to 2017 Pan American Elite Team, Nominated for 2017 FIH Hockey Stars Awards Female Athlete of the Year
• 2016: Series against Canada (Chula Vista, Calif.), Series against Chile (Lancaster, Pa.), Series against Holland (Hilversum, The Netherlands), Citi Rio Send-Off Series (Lancaster, Pa.)
• 2015: Series against Argentina (Lancaster, Pa.), 8 Nations Tournament (5th, Hawke's Bay, New Zealand), Series against Ireland (Lancaster, Pa.), Series against Great Britain (Marlow, England), Series against Japan (Lancaster, Pa.)
• 2013: Four Nations (Auckland, New Zealand)
• 2010: Big East Conference Defensive Player of the Year, 2010 Finalist for the Honda Sports Award for Field Hockey, First Team All-American (UConn)
• 2009: All-BIG EAST First Team, BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year, NFHCA All-Mideast First Team, NFHCA All-America First Team (UConn), U.S. Junior World Cup Team
• 2008: Member of the U.S. U-21 National Team, Junior National Camp Selection, Enters collegiate season as UConn's top returning scorer, NFHCA All-America Third Team, All-BIG EAST First Team (UConn)
• 2007: BIG EAST All-Tournament Team, All-BIG EAST Second Team, NCAA All-Final Four Team, NFHCA All-Mideast Second Team (UConn)

Olympic Experience

• 2-time Olympian
• Olympic Games Rio de Janeiro 2016, 5th (Team - Women)
• Olympic Games London 2012, 12th (Team - Women)

World Championship Experience

• Gold - 2017 World League Semifinals (Johannesburg, South Africa), Named Best Player of the Tournament
• Gold - 2015 Pan American Games (Toronto, Canada)
• Gold - 2014 Champions Challenge (Glasgow, Scotland)
• Gold - 2013 World League Round 2 (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)
• Gold - 2011 Pan American Games (Guadalajara, Mexico)
• Silver - 2012 Champions Challenge I (Dublin, Ireland)
• Bronze - 2017 Pan American Cup (Lancaster, Pa.)
• Bronze - 2016 Champions Trophy (London, England)
• 4th - 2014 Rabobank Hockey World Cup (The Hague, The Netherlands)
• 5th - 2015 World League Round Semifinals (Valencia, Spain)
• 7th - 2017 World League Final (Auckland, New Zealand)
• 14th - 2018 Vitality Hockey Women's World Cup (London, England)

More

The former University of Connecticut field hockey star earned her pivotal spot on the National Team in 2010. Gonzalez verified her importance at the 2011 Pan American Games by being a part of an outcome that made USA Field Hockey history. Gonzalez made her first Olympic Games appearance in the London 2012 Games and was a part of the 2014 Rabobank Hockey World Cup squad that impressed the world with a fourth place finish.