From Argentina to Oxford: How Miami women’s field hockey landed the 2025-26 MAC freshman of the year

Tears streamed down her face as she clutched her luggage. One final goodbye to her parents meant a brand new phase of life. She said goodbye to 10 p.m. dinners, less structured class and practice schedules and a vibrant Argentinian culture. 

“Just four months” she thought, and then she could come back for good.

Three months prior, Justina Intzes was playing field hockey for Los Tordos against its rival Marista in Mendoza, Argentina. Little did she know, the Miami University women’s field hockey head coach Iñaki Puzo received an invitation from former RedHawk player Luli Rosso to watch the two teams. 

Taking a flight to Buenos Aires, Argentina, and then Mendoza, Puzo saw the game as a scouting opportunity for a competitive, high-intensity RedHawk team. 

Immediately, he noticed Intzes’ speed, fast hands and capability to score, three attributes that he believed made her the best player on the field. Rosso asked Puzo what he liked from the game, and Intzes’ name was mentioned. What Puzo didn’t know was that Rosso would rope in Intzes and her father for a meeting while he grabbed a Diet Coke from the cafeteria. 

“I get out of the cafeteria, (and) there is Luli with Justi(na) and Justi’s dad,” Puzo said, “I was not ready for that.”

What was a nice greeting turned into a 45-minute conversation about college field hockey in the United States, how the NCAA works and all the opportunities that the Miami program has to offer. Puzo said family support is an important factor in recruiting international players.

“My impression right after that meeting was that they would be someone that would be very trusted,” Puzo said. “The dad and the mom were my biggest advocates, my biggest helpers to get Justi(na) here.”

Puzo saw what he liked and extended the offer to Intzes to join the RedHawks for the 2025-26 season. 

With uncertainty about her future in Argentina, Intzes was also uncertain about making the commitment. She had half a summer to make a decision that would temporarily send her away from her family, and considering her parents showed up to every game, it was not an easy one.

Her parents nudged her though, telling her it was a great opportunity. They reassured her that if she didn’t like it, they would pay for a flight to come back after the fall semester. She just had to get through four months. 

But one year later, and with a desire to play for another three, Intzes found not just success at the national level, but also a life-changing community at Miami.

“Miami is like a family, so it’s very important to mention that I didn’t want to come, and now I want to stay,” Intzes said. 

Another large factor in Intzes’ decision to join Miami was that she didn’t come alone. Sophomore midfielder Malena Sabez, who grew up playing with Intzes, tagged along. Together, the dynamic duo made Miami the only school in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) history to have two freshmen score 20 or more goals in a single season. 

Their respective performances helped boost the RedHawks to its first-ever Elite Eight appearance in the NCAA tournament. 

“The wins are a byproduct of the culture,” assistant head coach Chip Rogers said. “We have a very set order of family first, school second and hockey third. How that develops is the fact that we are a group of people who are very much supportive of each other and work together to achieve a common goal.”

Intzes’ favorite moment with the RedHawks came from the win that sent the team to the Elite Eight. 

Miami and the No. 4 University of Virginia Cavaliers were tied 1-1 heading into the third period. Intzes scored off an assist from then-senior back Berta Mata to give the team the lead. The RedHawks outlasted them 2-1, giving Intzes a game-winner, and a day she would never forget.

“That game for me was the best game I have ever had in my life,” Intzes said.

Now, her accolades continue to pile up. After three goals in two games, including a game-winner against James Madison University, Intzes was named MAC Offensive Player of week 5 on Sept. 29. She also leads the team in points (13) and game-winners (3) this season. 

Still, Intzes keeps in touch with family from home. After every game, the first person she calls is her dad. 

“My dad is always with me,” Intzes said. “He watches all my games. Also, when I was playing in Argentina, both my dad and my mom came to every game, so they are very important to me. Without them, I would not be playing here.”

Division I athletics brings a busy schedule. With multiple games per week and practices throughout, Intzes has a lot on her plate, especially with her engineering management classes in the mix. Yet, thanks to her teammates, she has found her balance. 

Apart from field hockey and classes, Intzes can typically be seen with her teammates. She said they enjoy coffee drinks uptown, watching a movie in theatres, or going bowling, along with attending any special events that are happening uptown. 

The culture of support from teammates has been around before Intzes committed to Miami. 

“These young women are phenomenally related to each other,” Rogers said. “Years after they graduate, they’re at each other’s bridal parties, they’re at their (bridal) showers and they’re supporting each other the entire time they’re here and even after they’re here.”

Intzes’ success will only continue as she enters the back half of her second year with Miami women’s field hockey. Heading into November, she’s awaiting more wins, more conference championships and more program records.

But above all, she awaits postgame phone calls with her parents, visits to Argentina over winter and summer breaks and a team culture that affirmed she made the right decision in choosing the Miami RedHawks.