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PERTH, Australia – Argentina captured the field hockey world championship with a sudden death penalty stroke victory over the Netherlands at the FIH World Cup. The title was the first for Argentina who outlasted the 5-time champion Dutch in sudden death penalty strokes, 4-3. Argentina held the lead through most of the game after scoring early on an Inez Arrondo field goal in the 5th minute of play. However, the Netherlands sent the game into extra time with an Ageeth Boomgardt penalty corner goal with one minute remaining in regulation. After a scoreless overtime, both teams converted just one of their initial five strokes to send the game into the sudden death phase of the stroke competition. Argentina finally clinched the title with the third stroke of sudden death when the Netherlands’ Fatima Moreira de Melo missed her stroke and Argentina’s Cecilia Rognoni connected on her shot to give Argentina the victory. In the third place game, Ma Yiba and Cheng Hui scored first half goals as China defeated defending champion Australia, 2-0. The United States improved its international standing by placing 9th in the tournament after entering the event as the #11 seed. Head coach Tracey Belbin’s team defeated Japan, 4-2, in penalty strokes to capture the ninth place position. The U.S. will now begin preparations for the Pan American Games, Aug. 1-16 in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic where the team will face the world champion Argentineans. The Pan Am Games serve as the continental qualifier for the 2004 Olympic Games Final World Cup Standings: 1. Argentina 2. Netherlands 3. China,
4. Australia, 5. England, 6. Korea, 7. Germany, 8. Spain, 9. USA, 10. Japan, 11. New
Zealand, 12. Scotland, 13. South Africa, 14. Ukraine, 15. Ireland, 16. Russia. www.usfieldhockey.com |
