FIELD HOCKEY WORLD CUP: USA, Barber Down Ireland, 2-1

PERTH, Australia – Kate Barber scored two goals to lift the U.S. women’s field hockey team to a 2-1 win over Ireland in the second day of play at the 10^th FIH World Cup.

Barber opened the scoring in the first half with a sliding re-direction of a Carrie Lingo pass to give the U.S. a quick 1-0 lead.

“It was nice,” said Barber on the USA’s first goal of the tournament. “We knew through watching film that they were susceptible to the pass from the left back to the right. Carrie Lingo made a great pass, and I was just waiting for it. I went down just to make sure it went in.”

Ireland countered ten minutes later after the USA’s Katie Kauffman was called for an intentional foul outside the circle. Ireland’s Arlene Boyles blasted a direct shot into the goal on the ensuing penalty corner to tie the game and swing the momentum to the Irish side.

The revived Irish held the U.S. in its own end for much of the remainder of the first half, but manage only one shot on goal in the first half. The U.S. defense held Ireland to just two shots and two penalty corners for the entire game.
 

“Ireland was trying to put on a lot of pressure, and they were successful in that we did fall out of our pattern and turned the ball over too many times,” said U.S. defender Jill Reeve. “But toward the end of the game, we started to get that back together and finished the game to get the win.”

The U.S. caught a break midway through the second half when Barber intercepted a crossing pass from Ireland’s Rachel Kohler at the top of the Irish circle. The former Univ. of North Carolina standout calmly turned and placed the ball over Irish keeper Angela Platt for the game-winner.

“I was a little bit surprised,” said Barber on receiving the pass. “You never really expect them to hit the ball right to you. I was in a good space, and I guess she didn’t see me. The keeper came out and I just wanted to make sure I got it on cage.”

The game marked the third time the U.S. and Ireland had played in the last eight weeks after the two teams split a pair of games at October’s International Atlantic Cup in Virginia Beach.

“We have to credit the U.S.,” said Ireland’s Laura Lee. “They did their homework and we played into their hands a little bit.”

The win improves the U.S. record to 1-1 in Pool B, while Ireland falls to 0-2 in the 16-team tournament. In other action in Pool B on Monday, The Netherlands defeated Japan, 2-0 while England and South Africa played to a 2-2 draw. Australia played Spain in Monday’s late game.

“It was pretty ugly, but we’ll take the win,” said U.S. coach Tracey Belbin. “It adds to the team’s overall outlook and confidence. We know we are capable of winning games, and so we’ll look forward to the next game and we’ll prepare equally as hard.”

The U.S. returns to action on Wednesday against Japan.

USA 2, Ireland 1
USA: Kate Barber (fg,14:00)

IRL: Arlene Boyles (pc,24:00)
USA: Kate Barber (fg, 43:00)
 
Ireland Starters: Angela Platt, Arlene Boyles, Jenny Burke, Linda Caulfield, Eimear Cregan, Rachel Kohler, Laura Lee, Pamela Magill, Claire McMahon, Jill Orbison, , Katharine Maybin, Daphne Sixsmith, Katherine Maybin

Subs: Karen Humpreys, Lynsey McVicker, Ciara O’Brien
USA Starters: Kristen McCann (Allentown, Pa.), Peggy Storrar (Mahopac, N.Y., gk), Kelli Gannon (Escondido, Calif.), Tracey Fuchs (Centereach, N.Y.), Antoinette Lucas (Richmond, Va.), Katie Beach (West Lawn, Pa.), Keli Smith (Selinsgrove, Pa.), Carla Tagliente (Corland, N.Y.), Jill Reeve (Hoosick Falls, N.Y.), Carrie Lingo (Rehoboth Beach, Del.), Kate Barber (West Chester, Pa.)

Subs:: Tara Jelley (Greenfield, Mass), Melanie Meerschwam (Princeton, N.J.), Tracey Larson (Morrisville, Pa.)