USA Field Hockey News

	USA's Carrie Lingo defends Korea's Ko Woon Oh outside the USA cirlce. Korea dominate possession throughout the second half, but the USA held on for a 1-1 draw.

USA Women, Korea Battle to 1-1 Draw at Olympic Qualifier

AUCKLAND, New Zealand – Tracey Fuchs (Centereach, N.Y.) connected on a second-half penalty corner and a stubborn USA defense held off Korea’s high-speed attack as the two teams battled to a 1-1 draw at the women’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament.

With the draw, the USA gained its first point of the tournament to remain in contention for one of the five qualifying berths to this summer’s Olympic Games in Athens.

“I thought they really fought,” said USA coach Beth Anders of her team’s effort against the tournament’s number-two seed. “They played their hearts out. They gave everything they had. I don’t have any complaints.”

The two teams battled through a scoreless first half as a patient USA defense continued to frustrate Korea’s quick, counter-attacking forwards.

“We definitely took their attack away, and we took their speed away,” said Anders. “They love to run and we didn’t allow them the opportunity.”

In the second half, the USA finally broke the deadlock when Fuchs slammed in her second goal of the tournament off a penalty corner in the 44^th minute.

But down 1-0, Korea picked up the tempo and renewed its frenzied assault on the USA goal ,only to be turned away by the USA defense.

“It was a dogfight in there,” said USA defender Carrie Lingo (Rehoboth Beach, Del.) on the frantic play inside the USA circle.  “It was fun. Everyone was confident in our game plan, and we were ready to play.”

Korea finally notched the tying goal when Jeong Sook Park deflected a hard pass from the top of the circle into the USA net with 10 minutes remaining in the game.

Korea continued to apply pressure as the USA withstood six second half penalty corner attempts by Korea, including one in the final seconds of play to hold on for the draw and the one point in the tournament standings.

“It’s confidence gained,” said Anders on the draw. “I don’t think you can put a point (value) on that.”

The USA (0-1-1) continues play on Tuesday against Russia (0-2).

www.usfieldhockey.com

USA 1, Korea 1
USA: Tracey Fuchs (PC, 44:00)
KOR: Jeong Sook Park (FG, 60:00)

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

Reserves: April Fronzoni, Kristi Gannon

Korea Starters: Yong Sook Park  (GK), Kim Yun Mi, Lee Jin Hee, Yoo Hee Joo, Sung Mi Han, Mid Seong  Lee, Ko Woon Oh, Seong Eun Kim, Jim Kyoung Kim, Jeong Sook Park Jung Hee Kim

Reserves: Seon Mi Park, Bo Kyung Yoon