US Field Hockey News
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The Charm's Jackie Pereira (center) takes a tumble during the U.S. Field Hockey Cranbarry
Summer League Championship Game. Pereira scored three goals to lift the Charm to a 3-0 win
over the Tempest in the final
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Southern Charm Wins 5th Straight U.S. Field Hockey Cranbarry Summer League Title
Virginia Beach –
Jackie Perieira scored three goals to lift the Southern Charm to a 3-0 victory over the
Tidewater Tempest in the championship game of the U.S. Field Hockey Cranbarry Summer
League.
In the third place game, Leah Geib and Rachel Barger scored two goals each to help the
Metro Rush overcome a 2-0 deficit to defeat the Midwest Cyclones, 7-3.
A two-time Olympic gold medalist for her native Australia, Pereira scored the
game's first goal in the 18th minute before sealing the victory with a pair of goals late
in the second half. She scored three goals in the 2001 championship game to help give the
Charm a 5-0 win over the Cyclones.
"We played much better today," said coach
Neil Macmillan who stepped in with Charm assistant Karen Shelton while head coach
Nick Conway is traveling with the U.S. National Team. "The defense player very firm
and strong for us and we were able to work the ball through the midfield and up front to
the forwards. When you have someone like Jackie up front, you don't really have to ask too
much of the other forwards. You just get the ball to her in good position and you can be
very successful."
Clinging to a 1-0 lead with eight minutes remianing in the game, the
Charm successfully defended a Tempest penalty corner and sprinted down field on the
counter-attack. Pereira received the ball on the right hand side of the circle and
hammered home the shot for the clinching score. She added her third goal of the game three
minutes later to ensure the victory.
The loss ended a surge of nine consecutive games without a loss
for the Tempest who rebounded from an early 1-2-1 start to the season to advance to the
team's first championship game appearance.
"We did really well," said Tempest coach Ange Bradley,
who was thrust into head coaching duties after original head coach Beth Anders
answered the call to become the U.S. National Team coach. "I'm very proud of the
kids. All of them really played for each other. We put together a good second half. We
were a little bit sluggish in the first half and they kept us on our heels. But they're a
good team and the Charm was just better than us today."
While the Charm's roster included Olympic veterans Pereira, Cindy Werely (USA
'96) and Leslie Lyness (USA '96), the League also serves to develop the nation's young
players while giving them a chance to compete with and against some of the nation's top
players.
" I don't think there is any question that this is a wonderful program for
U.S. Field Hockey," said Shelton. ""I think you're really starting to see
the development of the players. Every team has 1-2 high school players that get mentored
by these older players and that experience is invaluable. It's a delightful program and
we're honored to be a part of it."
In the consolation game, the Cyclones racked up a pair of first half scores on goals by
Lindsay Rothenberger and Liz Sanders for a 2-0 halftime lead. The Rush roared back int eh
second half when Jennifer Stone connected on a penalty corner in the 38th minute and
Alexandra Malatesta and Claire Miller added goals to give the Rush a 3-2 lead. After
Sophie Rosmalen tied the game for the Cyclones, Geib and Barger went to work for the
game's final four goals to give the Rush the victory and a third place league finish.
For the Charm, the fifth straight title has not yet become monotonous. Macmillan,
who served on the coaching staff for NCAA national champion Wake Forest and had four
members of the Demon Deacon championship team on the Charm roster, summed up his team's
feelings on what to do after winning all of the championships.
"Win some more."
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