USA Field Hockey News

	Angie Loy threads a pass during the USA's 2-1 extra time win over Ireland

USA Nips Ireland in Extra Time to keep Olympic hopes alive

 AUCKLAND, New Zealand – Tracey Fuchs connected on a penalty corner goal with four minutes remaining in extra time to give the USA field hockey team a 2-1 victory over Ireland at the Olympic Qualifying Tournament.

With the win, the USA keeps its Olympic hopes alive while advancing to Saturday’s 5^th/6^th place game against Korea in a match that will decide the fifth and final Olympic qualifying berth. Korea defeated Great Britain, 2-0, to advance to the 5^th/6^th place game. Ireland will face Great Britain in the match for 7^th place.

Tournament semifinalists Spain, Japan, New Zealand and Germany secured Olympic spots earlier in the tournament.

Fuchs’ goal came after a frenzied final minute of regulation that included an Ireland miss on an open USA goal with 34 seconds of play remaining.

“We were very fortunate, no question about it,” said USA coach Beth Anders on the victory. “I thought Ireland competed very hard and we were just very fortunate that we came out on top. These players are competitors and this is their dream. This meant a great deal to both teams so I wasn’t surprised (at Ireland’s intensity).”

With the pressure of Olympic elimination looming for both teams, the USA gradually took control of the first half, but the match remained scoreless after the U.S. misfired on two penalty corner attempts, and runs by Kate Barber and Keli Smith through the Ireland circle came up empty. When Ireland attempted a counter attack, it was met with a wave of red jerseys as the USA recorded its fifth straight half without surrendering a goal.

The USA finally got on the scoreboard in the early minutes of the second half when a diving Kristen McCann (Allentown, Pa.) deflected in a Barber pass to give the USA a 1-0 lead at the 27-minute mark.

“I saw Kate winding up and we always try to widen the goal,” said McCann “I just got to the position I’m supposed to be in and got a stick on it. It was easy.”

The USA wouldn’t find it as simple for the remainder of the game however, as Ireland tied the game nine minutes later on Eimear Cregan’s penalty corner blast.

The inspired Irish continued to press through much of the second half as the U.S. defense survived an additional two penalty corner opportunities late in the game. USA keeper Peggy Storrar collected saves on Ireland’s only two shots on goal as the USA outlasted Ireland’s final attack before the end of regulation.

“We just told them to calm down, and that we needed to play our game and not to panic,” said Anders on talking with the team prior to the start of extra time. “When you want something that bad, it’s normal to get excited.”

The USA missed a chance just seconds into overtime when April Fronzoni slipped on a breakaway after taking a pass from McCann in front of an open Irish net. But after changing sides at the halfway point of the second half, Keli Smith drew a penalty corner to set up Fuch’s final heroics.

The USA will now face a Korea team it played to a 1-1 draw in pool play.

“The whole tournament we’ve been very consistent in talking about just taking one game at a time,” said Anders on the game with Korea and the Olympic prize for the winner. “And just like today, tomorrow’s the most important game.”

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USA 2 , Ireland 1 (aet)

USA:  Kristen McCann (FG, 37:00)
IRE: Eimear Cregan (PC, 45:00)
USA: Tracey Fuchs (PC, 81:00)

Cards: IRE - Eimear Cregan (G, 31:00), Ciara O'Brian (G, 58:00)

USA Starters: Angie Loy, Kristen McCann, Peggy Storrar (GK), Tara Jelley, Tracey Larson, Tracey Fuchs, Katie Beach, Keli Smith, Carrie Lingo, Kate Barber, Kristi Gannon

Reserves: April Fronzoni, Mimi Smith, Dina Rizzo

Ireland Starters: Angela Platt (GK), Fiona Connery, Linda Caulfield, Eimear Cregan, Bridget McKeever, Jenny McDonough, Lynsey McVicker, Ciara O’Brian, Nikki Symmons, Katharine Maybin, Jenny Burke