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South Africa Edges USA Women’s Field Hockey, 4-3

STORRS, Conn. – South Africa’s Carina Van Zijl scored in the 70^th minute to lift South Africa to a thrilling 4-3 victory over the U.S. women’s field hockey team in the second game of ta four-game series between the two teams at the University of Connecticut.

      Following a scramble in front of the USA goal, Van Zijl knocked in a loose ball with just seconds remaining to give South Africa the win.

      “I was happier with how we played,” said U.S. head coach Tracey Belbin.

      “Obviously the result was disappointing to let South Africa back in with 20 seconds left to go. But they’re a good team, and qualify team. They have a lot s of good, experienced people on their side, so you can never relax, and that’s a good lesson for us.”

      The US fought back from deficits of 2-0 and 3-1 to tie the game in the 65^th minute on Carla Tagliente’s second goal of the game with five minutes remaining.

      “I was just   trying to get something going,” said Tagliente on her game-tying goal. “I hadn’t touched the ball in a while so I was trying to combine with Kristen (McCann) on the right and it opened up a lane. I just kept playing it out trying to get a corner, and shot the ball.  I looked up and it was going in.”

      The U.S. fell behind mid-way through the first half on goals by Susan Wessels and Kerry Bee, as South Africa continually tested U.S. keeper Peggy Storrar.

             “We had a slow first half and not everyone played to their full potential,” said Belbin. “I   thought in the second half we picked it up and scored a couple of goals. I thought (goalkeeper) Peggy Storrar had an awesome game. She kept us in the game in the first half.”

      Storrar finished the game with 11 saves.

      The U.S. finally got on the scoreboard late in the first half when Tagliente netted a deflection on a penalty corner in the 31^st minute to pull the Americans to within 2-1 at halftime.

      South Africa’s Wessels put her team  back on top by two goals in the 48^th minute with a goal off one of the team’s five penalty corners on the afternoon.

      The USA quickly answered with Mimi Smith’s first international goal in the 54^th minute.. After pushing the ball out past the five meter mark beyond the circle, Smith collected a pass and swept the ball into the net to pull the U.S. back to within 4-3, and set up Tagliente’s tying goal.

      “It was fun game to play in,” said Tagliente. “It was going back and forth and was really exciting. But it’s disappointing to not come away with a win.”

      The U.S narrowly missed the go-ahead goal with two minutes remaining in the game when Kristen McCann’s shot hit the near post. South Africa recovered in transition to press in the final seconds and set up Van Zijl’s game-winning heroics.           

      The U.S. continues its tour with South Africa, Tuesday, Oct. 16 at Springfield (Mass.) College. The tour concludes Oct. 20 at the team’s new training center at Virginia Beach, Va. The two teams played to a 0-0 draw in their first game at Boston College.

      South Africa is currently ranked 10^th in the world following its 10^th place finish at the 2000 Olympic Games. The U.S. is currently ranked 11^th in the world.        

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at Univ of Connecticut, Storrs, Conn.

South Africa 4, USA 3

RSA: Susan Wessels (15:00, pc)

RSA: Kerry Bee (23:00, fg)

USA: Carla Taglinete (31:00, pc)

RSA: Susan Wessles (48:00, pc)

USA: Mimi Smith (54:00, fg)

USA: Carla Taglinete (65:00, fg)

RSA: Carina Van Zijl (70:00, fg)

USA Starters: Mimi Smith, Kristen McCAnn, Peggy Storrar (gk), Tara Jelley, Kelli Gannon, Tracey Fuchs, Melanie Meerschwam, Katie Kauffman, Jill Reeve, Natalie Dawson, Carla Tagliente

SUBS: Kim Milller, Antoinette Lucas

South Africa Starters: Caroline Birt (gk), Carina Van Zijl, Candice Forward, Jonke Koornhof, Sophie Mayer, Lindsey Carlisle, Kerry Bee, Pietie Coetzee, Julia Henry,   Luntu Ntloko, Susan Wessels

SUBS: Marissa Alves, Melinda Vos, Jenny Wilson