University hockey star set for World Cup bid with Scotland
Lexie Macmillan will compete in Santiago, Chile
/filters:format(webp)/filters:no_upscale()/prod01/cdn/media/stirling/news/news-centre/2025/nov-25/Lexie-Macmillan-1200X630(2).jpg)
University of Stirling hockey player Lexie Macmillan will celebrate the biggest moment of her career next week – as she lines up for Scotland at the Junior World Cup in South America.
The 20-year-old forward, from Perth, is part of the 18-strong squad that has travelled to Santiago, Chile, as Scotland prepares for its first Junior World Cup campaign since 2005.
Lexie, a third-year BSc Sport and Exercise Science student, is a sports scholar at Stirling – Scotland’s University for Sporting Excellence. She competes for Stirling in the British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) Scottish Tier 1, and for Glasgow-based Western Wildcats in the Scottish Premiership.
She has also represented Scotland at under 17, 18 and 21 level – and says her selection for the Junior World Cup is the highlight of her career so far. She said: “I’ve been working my way through the age groups with Scotland – I started about four years ago and am now playing under-21s.
“To qualify for the Junior World Cup is my greatest achievement to date – the biggest thing I’ve done in hockey so far. We’ve played loads of teams in Europe – but in Chile we’ll be playing Australia, Canada and Spain.
“We’ve prepared really well for the competition – we’ve done the work in training and doing lots of camps – and we are feeling confident and prepared going in. We just hope it all goes well – and I think we can go far if we play well.”
/filters:format(webp)/filters:no_upscale()/prod01/cdn/media/stirling/news/news-centre/2025/nov-25/LexieMacmillan-700X600-(1).jpg)
World Cup hockey player and sports scholar, University of Stirling
There are so many sports scholars, so it’s great training with other athletes, getting physio and strength and conditioning tailored to my specific sport, and having the academic flexibility to support my studies.
Lexie believes her scholarship at the University of Stirling has played a key role in her success to date – and hopes a good performance in Chile will help her realise her dream, of making the senior Scotland team.
“The facilities and the support you receive here at the University is really good,” she said. “There are so many sports scholars, so it’s great training with other athletes, getting physio and strength and conditioning tailored to my specific sport, and having the academic flexibility to support my studies.
“I want to play well at the World Cup and then I have one more year of under-21s – hopefully then I can make that step up to the seniors.”
Scotland qualified for the competition with a sensational performance as they won gold at the Under-21 EuroHockey Championship II in Konya, Turkey, last year.
Lexie and her teammates, who are seeking sponsorship to support their World Cup trip, will compete in Pool E in the opening stages of the World Cup, taking on Spain at 9pm (GMT) on Tuesday 2 December; Canada at 4.30pm (GMT) on Thursday 4 December; and Australia at 4.30pm (GMT) on Saturday 6 December. It then moves into a knockout phase, with the competition running until Saturday 13 December.
Achievement
David Bond, Director of Performance Sport at the University of Stirling, said: “During her time as a sports scholar at the University, Lexie has applied herself, improved as an athlete and made impressive progress through the Scotland age categories – she should be very proud. Now, to be selected for her country at a World Cup is a massive achievement and we are delighted for her.
“We wish Lexie and her teammates all the best in Santiago and will be cheering them on from campus – we’re excited to see what they can achieve.”
At Stirling, athletes have access to world-class facilities, including a 50-metre pool, unrivalled outdoor space, and state-of-the-art strength and conditioning suites. In addition to its coaching and facilities, Stirling’s International Sports Scholarship Programme – one of the largest high-performance programmes in the UK – offers athletes funding support, academic flexibility, equipment and kit. It has supported hundreds of athletes since its inception in 1981 – with many competing on the world stage, including at the Olympics and Commonwealth Games.
Core sports include triathlon, football, golf, tennis, swimming, rugby and curling, while individual scholarships cover all Olympic, Paralympic and Commonwealth Games sports.
Read more about high-performance sport at the University of Stirling.