Field Hockey
Gonzalez, Melissa
Melissa Gonzalez
- Title:
- Assistant Coach
- Email:
- gonzalma@wfu.edu
- Phone:
- 336-758-3292
Melissa Gonzalez, a former University of Connecticut field hockey standout and U.S. Women’s National Team captain, joined the Wake Forest field hockey family in May of 2018 as an assistant coach and enters her fourth season in 2021.
“Wake Forest is truly honored to welcome Melissa Gonzalez, a U.S. Olympian, to our athletic department and hockey family,” said head coach Jennifer Averill. “Her passion and dedication to our sport is extraordinary, as is her intrinsic and uncompromising work ethic. Coupled with her infectious and fun-loving spirit, Melissa will add exceptional value to our talented squad and department.”
Prior to joining the Demon Deacons, Gonzalez spent the past eight years competing with the U.S. Women’s National Team and representing Team USA at two Olympic Games. In 2016, she competed in the Rio Olympics, helping the team to a fifth-place finish. She was also a member of Team USA for the 2012 London Olympics that saw the team finish 12th.
Gonzalez made her National Tam debut in 2010. She has many remarkable achievements with the program, including leading Team USA to a two gold medals in the 2011 and 2015 Pan American Games in Mexico and Toronto. Gonzalez continued to excel at an international level as Team USA took home the gold in the 2013 World League Round 2, the 2014 Champions Challenge and most recently the 2017 World League Semifinals where she was also named the Best Player of the tournament.
Alongside her numerous gold medals, Gonzalez earned a silver in the 2012 Champions Challenge and bronze medals in the 2017 Pan American Cup and the 2016 Champions Trophy.
An accomplished high school soccer player, she switched to field hockey at the University of Connecticut and made an immediate impact. As a freshman, she earned All-BIG EAST Second Team honors, a spot on the BIG EAST All-Tournament Team and NFCHA All-Mideast Second Team honors as the Huskies made a deep tournament run.
Gonzalez continued her success with the UConn program, earning NFHCA All-America Third Team honors and All-BIG EAST First Team honors as a sophomore. Her junior season she was named to the All-BIG EAST First Team, BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year, NFHCA All-Mideast First Team and NFHCA All-America First Team. Her final season at Connecticut, she was named Big East Conference Defensive Player of the Year, a finalist for the Honda Sports Award for Field Hockey and a First Team All-American.
In 2008, Gonzalez was named to the U.S. U-21 National Team and a Junior National Camp Selection. Her success at this level continued as she made the U.S. Junior World Cup Team in 2009.
Gonzalez graduated from the University of Connecticut in 2011. She served as a volunteer assistant coach with Connecticut in 2011 and Yale in 2012.
“I’m extremely honored to be joining the Demon Deacon family and field hockey program,” Gonzalez said. “I’m excited to learn and work alongside world class coaches who have created a rich history of success within the ACC and NCAA. I also look forward to building a bond with each student-athlete to help them develop both on and off the pitch. I am beyond thankful for this opportunity. "
“Wake Forest is truly honored to welcome Melissa Gonzalez, a U.S. Olympian, to our athletic department and hockey family,” said head coach Jennifer Averill. “Her passion and dedication to our sport is extraordinary, as is her intrinsic and uncompromising work ethic. Coupled with her infectious and fun-loving spirit, Melissa will add exceptional value to our talented squad and department.”
Prior to joining the Demon Deacons, Gonzalez spent the past eight years competing with the U.S. Women’s National Team and representing Team USA at two Olympic Games. In 2016, she competed in the Rio Olympics, helping the team to a fifth-place finish. She was also a member of Team USA for the 2012 London Olympics that saw the team finish 12th.
Gonzalez made her National Tam debut in 2010. She has many remarkable achievements with the program, including leading Team USA to a two gold medals in the 2011 and 2015 Pan American Games in Mexico and Toronto. Gonzalez continued to excel at an international level as Team USA took home the gold in the 2013 World League Round 2, the 2014 Champions Challenge and most recently the 2017 World League Semifinals where she was also named the Best Player of the tournament.
Alongside her numerous gold medals, Gonzalez earned a silver in the 2012 Champions Challenge and bronze medals in the 2017 Pan American Cup and the 2016 Champions Trophy.
An accomplished high school soccer player, she switched to field hockey at the University of Connecticut and made an immediate impact. As a freshman, she earned All-BIG EAST Second Team honors, a spot on the BIG EAST All-Tournament Team and NFCHA All-Mideast Second Team honors as the Huskies made a deep tournament run.
Gonzalez continued her success with the UConn program, earning NFHCA All-America Third Team honors and All-BIG EAST First Team honors as a sophomore. Her junior season she was named to the All-BIG EAST First Team, BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year, NFHCA All-Mideast First Team and NFHCA All-America First Team. Her final season at Connecticut, she was named Big East Conference Defensive Player of the Year, a finalist for the Honda Sports Award for Field Hockey and a First Team All-American.
In 2008, Gonzalez was named to the U.S. U-21 National Team and a Junior National Camp Selection. Her success at this level continued as she made the U.S. Junior World Cup Team in 2009.
Gonzalez graduated from the University of Connecticut in 2011. She served as a volunteer assistant coach with Connecticut in 2011 and Yale in 2012.
“I’m extremely honored to be joining the Demon Deacon family and field hockey program,” Gonzalez said. “I’m excited to learn and work alongside world class coaches who have created a rich history of success within the ACC and NCAA. I also look forward to building a bond with each student-athlete to help them develop both on and off the pitch. I am beyond thankful for this opportunity. "
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