US Field Hockey News
|
Jessica
Coleman uses the drag flick to convert on her fourth penalty corner in three games as
Katie Beach and Tracey Larson look on during the USA's 8-1 win over Jamaica.
|
U.S. Field Hockey Women Blast
Jamaica, 8-1
Virginia
Beach, Va. – Jessica Coleman scored two goals and seven of her U.S. teammates
added their names to the scoring column as the U.S. women's field hockey team defeated
Jamaica, 8-1, in the third game of a four game series at the U.S. Field Hockey National
Training Center.
With the win, the U.S. raised its record
to 3-0 against their Pan American Games-bound rival after the U.S. Under-23 team defeated
Jamaica, 4-2, on Friday and the U.S. National Team topped the visitors, 8-0, on Saturday.
During the series, Coleman unveiled one
of the newest weapons in the U.S. arsenal with a drag flick off penalty corner situations
that have resulted in scores in each of the three games.
"I've been practicing alot,"
says Coleman who began concentrating on the technique in April. "I've been doing
extra sessions, watching film and working with (assistant) Andy Smith. It was nice that we
were able to convert on a few of them. Two out of five is not too bad, but I've still got
a long way to go. Hopefully, I'll get better."
One of the most effective and enviable
penalty corner skills, the drag flick allows the shooter to generate most of the the power
of a full hit while allowing an option of drilling the ball along the ground or
lifting the powerful shot into the top of net. The skill can be difficult to master, and
the resulting shot can be difficult to defend.
Coleman used the skill ot earn MVP honors
at last month's JFK Memorial Tournament in Virginia Beach. She was also runner-up in the
U.S. Olympic Committee's Female Athlete of the Month balloting for the month of May.
In Sunday's game, Coleman used the
technique to convert on the team's first penalty corner attempt with a low drive past
Jamaica keeper Alicea Francois eight minutes into the game. The U.S. added to its lead 6
minutes later when Melanie Meerschwam connected on a penalty stoke for her third goal of
the tournament.
After being shutout in its first game
against the U.S. National Squad, Jamaica finally got a chance to celebrate when Sharee
Russell deflected a pass past U.S. keeper Amy Tran in the 24th minute to pull her team to
within 2-1. It would be Jamaica's only scoring opportunity however, as Dina Rizzo
responded with a field goal at the 33 minute mark to give the U.S. a 3-1 halftime lead.
The U.S. dominance continued in the
second half when Jill Reeve connected on a penalty corner of her own two minutes into the
half , and Virginia Beach native Mimi Smith deposited a pass into the cage at the
46-minute mark to raise the U.S. lead to 5-1.
After Tara Jelley blasted a shot into the
cage from the top of the circle, Coleman used her new skill to power an impressive shot
high over Jamaica keeper Gleniece Green to give the U.S. a 7-1 lead. Kim Miller
concluded the scoring with a field goal in the 62nd minute.
Coach Beth Anders continued to experiment
with a wide variety of line-ups and combinations in the game as U.S. Field Hockey prepares
to make its final selections for the team to represent the U.S. at the Champions Challenge
in July and the Pan American Games in August.
Both Jamaica and the U.S. are preparing
for the Pan American Games, Aug. 2-13 in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. The winner of
the Pan Am Games receives the continent’s automatic berth in the 2004 Olympic Games.
The
final game of the series is scheduled for Monday at 4:45 p.m.
June 22 at
Virginia Beach, 12:45 p.m.
USA 8, Jamaica 1
USA: Jessica Coleman (pc, 26:00)
USA: Melanie Meerschwam (ps, 14:00)
JAM: Sharee Russell (fg, 24:00)
USA: Dina Rizzo (fg, 33:00)
USA: Jill Reeve (pc, 37:00)
USA: Mimi Smith (pc, 46:00)
USA: Tara Jelley (fg, 57:00)
USA: Jessica Coleman (pc, 57:00)
USA: Kim Miller (fg, 62:00)
USA Starters: Mimi Smith, Joann
Engstrom, Tara Jelley, Robyn Kenney, Lauren Mazziotto, Katie Beach, Jill Reeve, Tracey
Larson, Abbey Woolley, Amy Tran (GK), Jessica Coleman
Subs: Kim Miller, Dina Rizzo, Melanie Meershwam, Kim Miller, Natalie Dawson
Jamaica Starters: Azra Blythe, Andrea Corban, Erica May Chambers, Nicole Grant, Sharee
Russell, Kadene Brown, Shareeka Elliott, Shakeela Elliott, Shackera Williams, Alicea
Francis (GK)
Subs: Annmaire Smith, Karen Wilson,
Andrea Allen, Carla Hewett, Glenice Green,
Umpires: Jun Kentwell, Renee Zelkin
www.usfieldhockey.com
|
