US Field Hockey News

Tracey Fuchs (center) made her final appearance for the USA in the Pan Am final against Argentina. (File photo)

USA Women Fall to Argentina, 3-0, in Pan Am Cup Final

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados. – The USA women's field hockey settled for a second consecutive silver medal as the USA dropped a 3-0 decision to defending champion Argentina in the championship game of the Pan American Cup.

With the win, Argentina earns the continental berth in the 2006 World Cup, but under recent interpretations of the FIH World Cup qualifying procedure, the USA’s second place finish would qualify the team for the World Cup Qualifying Tournament scheduled for 2005. Six teams from the 12-team qualifier are expected to qualify for the World Cup, Sept. 27- Oct. 7, 2006 in Madrid.

After a scoreless first half, Argentina took a 1-0 lead two minutes into the second half as Soledad Garcia netted a crossing pass to give the reigning world champions a 1-0 lead.

. Garcia struck again midway through the half to later to increase the lead to 2-0 before Alejandra Gulla added a goal just minutes later to secure the win for Argentina and send the USA to a second straight silver medal.

The match also marked the final game in the storied career of USA midfielder Tracey Fuchs (Centereach, Conn.). A two-time Olympian, Fuchs announced her retirement from international play prior to the game and was honored by the team and the Pan American Cup crowd before the match. She led the team in scoring at the Pan Am Cup with 7 goals. Fuchs appeared in 269 international matches in a career that spanned 18 years. The 37-year old competed in two Olympic Games, four World Cup Tournaments and all five Pan American Games women’s tournaments.

The USA could also lose additional players to retirement following the tournament including captain Katie Beach who has accepted the head coaching job at Columbia Univ.

Argentina 3, USA 0

ARG: Soledad Garcia (FG, 37:00)
ARG: Soledad Garcia (PC, 46:00)
ARG: Alejandra Gulla (FG, 48:00)

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

Reserves: abbey Woolley, April Fronzoni, Meredith Keller, Kristi Gannon