By TOM ROBINSON

For Dallas Post

Paige Selenski helped get the U.S. field hockey team off to fast start at the Pan American Games in Toronto.

The Dallas High School graduate from Shavertown scored the second goal in the second U.S. victory when the United States opened the tournament with a pair of shutout wins.

Selenski scored late in the first quarter of Wednesday’s 2-0 win over Chile.

Team USA captain Lauren Crandall sent a pass through the middle to set up Selenski behind the defense and the 2012 Olympian converted to complete the scoring.

Selenski started both games at forward, giving her three straight starts in international play.

After scoring in the tournament’s consolation semifinal, Selenski moved back into the starting lineup for the final World League Semifinals game in Valencia, Spain in June.

Pool play was scheduled to wrap up Friday.

The United States is headed to one of the top seeds for the bracket play scheduled for July 20, 22 and 24. The tournament winner will earn an automatic berth in the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games.

If Argentina, which has already qualified, wins the Pan Am Games, it greatly adds to the already strong likelihood that the United States will ultimately end up in the 12-team Olympic field.

Reach the Dallas Post newsroom at 570-675-5211 or by email at news@s24527.p831.sites.pressdns.com.