US Field Hockey News

Argentina Hands USA its First Pan Am Cup Loss, 6-1

LONDON, Ontario – Argentina handed the USA men;s field hockey team its first loss of the tournament with a 6-1 win at the Pan American Cup.

The loss drops the USA into a second place tie with Chile in Pool A with both teams holding a 3-1 record. The two teams square off on Tuesday with the winner advancing to the tournament semifinals. Chile, a 12-1 winner over Brazil on Sunday, holds the tie-breaker advantage in goal differential, and can advance to the semifinals with a win or a draw against the USA.

Undefeated in the tournament, Argentina rolled to a 4-0 halftime lead on goals by Jorge Lombi, Mario Almada and two goals by Matias Vila. Argentina added to its lead in the second half with Lombi and Almada each adding field goals late in the second half.

The USA finally got on the scoreboard in the 69th minute when Pat Harris scored his 7th goal of the tournament to avoid the shutout. The goal was the first allowed by Argentina and goalkeeper Pablo Moreira in the tournament.

The winner of the Pan Am Cup earns the continent's automatic berth in the 2006 World Cup, with an invitation to the World Cup qualifier expected to go to the second place finisher.

The teams have a rest day on Monday before resuming play on Tuesday.

In what has become an intense rivalry, the USA and Chile played to a 0-0 draw in their last meeting at the 2003 Pan American Games. In a scenario not unlike the one now facing the USA team, Chile eventually advanced to the semifinals and an eventual fourth-place finish by virtue of the goal-differential tie-breaker. The USA placed 5th at last year's Pan American Games, but can avoid a repeat of last summer with a win over Chile on Tuesday.

May 16 at London, Ontario
Argentina 6, USA 1
ARG: Jorge Lombi (PC, 9:00)
ARG: Matias Vila (FG, 25:00)
ARG: Mario Almada (FG, 28:00)
ARG: Matias Vila (PC, 32:00)
ARG: Jorge Lombi (FG, 52:00)
ARG: Mario Almada (FG, 61:00)
USA: Pat Harris (FG, 69:00)

Halftime: Argentina 4, USA 0

USA Starters: Jang Badhesha, Pat Harris, Jarred Martin, Shawn Hindy, Rinku Bhamber, Ian Scally, Pat Cota, Gurpal Kindy, Shawn Nakamura, Ramandeep Sandhu, Jason Wellings (GK)

Reserves: Koijan Kainth, Daraspreet Kainth, Daniel Jordan (Jeb Saez GK, 36)

www.usfieldhockey.com