US Field Hockey News

US Field Hockey News

Rivalries Renewed at USA Field Hockey International Atlantic Cup

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Oct. 3, 2003) – Some of international field hockey’s most intense rivalries will be renewed when USA Field Hockey hosts the second International Atlantic Cup, Oct. 8-12 at the USA Field Hockey National Training Center in Virginia Beach, Va.

Presented by Cox Communications, the tournament features four of the world's top ten ranked teams, including fifth ranked Great Britain, seventh-ranked Germany and 10^thranked Japan. The host U.S. team is ranked ninth in the world. The tournament represents a preview of the Olympic Qualifying Tournament, March 19-28 in Auckland, New Zealand with all four teams headed for the Qualifier. The top four or five teams at the 10-team qualifying tournament will join the five continental champions at the 2004 Olympic Games. Argentina, Australia, China and the Netherlands have already secured their spots in Athens.

In addition to Olympic hopes, the teams also bring with them long histories of play against each other that include the USA’s longest-running rivalry with the Great Britain squad. The U.S. series with Great Britain and England dates back to 1920 when a team of Philadelphia-area women traveled to the United Kingdom for games with the All England Ladies Hockey Association. The women were the first team to represent the U.S. in any international team sport against England. The Philadelphia Field Hockey Association hosted the first English Touring Team the following year, where the visitors outscored the home team during the series of games by a 252-10 total.

The rivalry also includes a 3-3 draw in a 1962 game played before 56,000 spectators at England's legendary Wembley Stadium. In an era before the World Cup or the inclusion of women's hockey in the Olympic Games, the game solidified the USA's place among the world's hockey elite. The two teams faced each other for the first time in Olympic play in 1988 when they played to a 2-2 draw in Seoul.

Most recently, Great Britain defeated the U.S. 1-0 at the 1996 Olympic Games, while England defeated the U.S. 1-0 at the 2002 World Cup.

Just as intense, the rivalry between Germany and Great Britain includes a long history of Olympic grudge matches. In Barcelona in 1992, Germany topped Great Britain, 2-1, in the semifinals to advance to the gold medal game. Great Britain returned the favor in 1996 with a 3-2 win over Germany at the Atlanta Olympic Games in a match that eventually sent Britain to the bronze medal game while dropping the Germans out of medal contention and an eventual 6^th place finish.

The USA’s rivalry with Germany includes a 1-1 draw at the 1996 Olympic Games and a stunning 2-1 victory for the U.S. in the bronze medal game of the 1994 World Cup. That game included current U.S. players Tracey Fuchs and Jill Reeve, as well as current German star Nadine Ernsting-Krienke. In recent matches, the U.S. topped Germany 2-0 at the 2002 Japan Six-Nation Tournament, while Germany recorded a last-minute, 2-1 victory at the 2003 Champions Challenge on its way to the tournament title.

One of the USA’s newest rivalries, the series with Japan has grown in intensity in the past few years highlighted by the USA’s dramatic penalty stroke victory in the 9^th/10^th place game at the 2002 World Cup. USA goalkeeper Peggy Storrar collected 32 saves, including two penalty stroke stops, to help the U.S. to victory after a 0-0 draw in regulation and extra time. The teams also played to a penalty stroke finish at the 2001 Korea Telecom cup before Japan took a 3-0 victory in strokes. Japan defeated the U.S. 2-1 in pool play at the World Cup and 4-3 at the 2003 Champions Challenge in Catania, Italy.

Tickets for the 2003 International Atlantic Cup are available for advanced purchase at $8 for adults and $4 for students, or at the gate for $10 for adults and $5 for students. Additional ticket information is available by calling 719-866-4371 or visiting www.usfieldhockey.com.

Oct. 8: 2 p.m. Japan vs. Germany; 4 p.m. USA vs. Great Britain

Oct. 9: 2 p.m. Great Britain vs. Japan; 4 p.m. USA vs. Germany

Oct. 10 – Rest Day

Oct. 11: 2 p.m. USA vs. Japan; 4 p.m. Germany vs. Great Britain

Oct. 12: 1:30 p.m. Consolation; 4 p.m. Championship