US Field Hockey News

U.S. Field Hockey U23 Team Downs Jamaica , 4-2

Virginia Beach, Va. – The U.S. Field Hockey Under-23 team used a balanced attack to down the visiting Jamaica national team, 4-2, at the U.S. Field Hockey National Training Center.

      The U.S. received goals from Katy Potter, Jess Coleman, Molly Powers and April Fronzoni to post the win over a Jamaica team preparing for the Pan American Games in August.

      “For about 20 minutes in the second half, I thought we played some of the best hockey I’ve seen from an under-23 team,” said U.S. junior team coach Tess Ellis. “The combinations and the 1-2 passes were amazing. It was good to see the team take what we learned at (last month’s ) JFK tournament and take it to the next level.”

      The U.S. wasted little time getting on the scoreboard as Potter netted a rebound off a penalty corner attempt to give her team a quick 1-0 advantage at the 14-minute mark. On loan from the U.S. national team, Coleman flicked a penalty corner shot over Jamaican goalkeeper Glenice Green eight minutes later to push the U.S. lead to 2-0 at halftime.

      Jamaica took advantage of a rare scoring opportunity early in the second half when Karen Wilson knocked in a lose ball in front of an open net to pull the visitors to within 2-1.

      The U.S. quickly responded however as Powers slammed a shot into the backboard  five minutes later.

      Jamaica pulled to within a goal with 14 minutes left to play when Nicole Grant scored past U.S. keeper Kristine Nesburg, but it was a close as the team would get as Fronzoni ended the scoring with a final field goal to give the Under-23 team the victory.

      Jamaica will continue its series in the U.S. on Saturday when the team takes on the U.S. national team at 12:45 at the Training Center. The U.S. will meet Jamaica again on Sunday at 6 p.m. before concluding the series on Monday at 4:45 p.m. All games are open to the public and there is no charge for admission.

      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.

June 20 at Virginia Beach, 6 p.m.

USA U23/USA 4, Jamaica 2

USA: Katy Potter (pc, 14:00)
USA: Jessica Coleman (pc, 22:00)
JAM: Karen Wilson (fg, 43:00)
USA: Molly Powers (fg, 48:00)
JAM: Nicole Grant (fg, 56:00)
USA: April Fronzoni (fg, 64:00)

USA Starters: Jess Coleman, Jill Dedman (GK), Joanne Engstrom, April Fronzoni, KeKristi Gannon, Abby Martin, Lauren Mazziotto, Katy Potter, Tiffany Snow

Subs: Marcie Boyer, Kerry Falgowski, Stephanie Johnson, Kristine Nesburg (GK, 36:00), Molly Powers

Jamaica Starters: Azra Blythe, Kadene Brown, Andrea Corban, Shakeela Elliott, Nicole Grant, Glenice Green (GK), Erica May-Chambers, Chantel Russell, Karen Wilson, Shackera Williams

Subs: Andrea Allen, Shareeka Elliott, Carla Hewett. Lorie McIntosh, Annmarie Smith, Monique Williams

Umpires: Jun Kentwell, Rene Zelkin

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