Santiago - The USA Field Hockey Under-21 team battled from behind twice to draw top-seeded The Netherlands, 2-2, at the Women's Junior World Cup

"We just came out and fought for 70 minutes today," said USA coach Tracey Fuchs. "To get a point from the number one country in the world is really big for us."

The draw gives both the USA (1-0-1) and The Netherlands (1-0-1) four points in the Pool A standings.

After scoring 13 goals against Zimbabwe the previous day, the Dutch appeared tp pick up where they left off when Maartje Paumen drag flicked a penalty corner shot into the top of the USA net three minutes into the game. But a USA defense of Lori Hillman (Gibbsboro, N.J./Michigan), Rachel Dawson (Berlin, N.J./North Carolina), Heather Schnepf (Medford Lakes, N.J./Iowa) and goalkeeper Kathryn Blair (Louisville, Ky./Virginia) turned away the Dutch threats throughout the remainder of the first half.

The U.S. continued to play the tournament's top-ranked team evenly into the second half when Lauren Crandall (Doyelstown, Pa./Wake Forest) leveled the game on the scoreboard with a penalty corner goal in the 46th minute.

Following the U.S. score, The Netherlands continued to test the U.S. defense until Paumen added her second drag-flick goal with 11 minutes left in the game to give the Dutch a 2-1 lead.

Once again, the U.S. battled back and with four minutes remaining in the game Cara-Lynn Lopresti (San Diego, Calif./Duke) nudged in a slow roller past Dutch keeper Charlotte van de Hulst to tie the game at 2-2.

As the clock wound down, The Netherlands continued to test the U.S. defense with a pair of penalty corner opportunities in the final two minutes.

"They had a lot of penalty corner opportunities in the game," said U.S. goalkeeper Blair who had five second-half saves. "But we reviewed their film before hand so we Knew what to expect. I think we did a pretty good job of keeping them out."

Still, Blair was impressed with Paumen's drag flick on the Dutch corners; a weapon the Dutch striker used in scoring five penalty corner goals against Zimbabwe.

"It's not like anything I've seen before," laughed Blair on one of the game's most effective weapons. "But it's pretty cool."

Following a day off on Friday, the USA resumes  play on Saturday with its final Pool A game against Zimbabwe. The top three teams in Pool A will advance to a six-team pool with the top three teams from Pool D. The top teams from Pool A and Pool C will likewise meet to determine the four tournament semi-finalist and classification matchups.

"This is really a tribute to the college coaches who sent their best players to represent America," said the USA's Fuchs on the willingness of U.S. coaches to send their athletes to the Junior World Cup during the U.S. college and high school seasons. "They should be really proud of that."

USA U21 2, The Netherlands 2

NED: Maartje Pauman (PC, 3:00)
USA: Lauren Crandall (PC, 46:00)
NED: Maartje Pauman (PC, 59:00)
USA: Cara-Lynn Lopresti (FG, 66:00)

USA Starters: Lori Hillman, Katie O'Donnell, Katie Grant, Mia Link, Katelyn Falgowski, Amy Stopford, Lauren Crandall, Rachel Dawson, Lauren Powley, Heather Schnepf, Katherine Blair (GK)

Subs: Cara-Lynn Lopresti, Michelle Kasold, Laree Beans

Coach: Tracey Fuchs

Netherlands Starters: Charlotte van der HULST (GK), Maartje Goderie, Mignonne Meekels, Renske van Geel, Maartje PAUMEN, Jolanda Plijter, Karin den Ouden, Alessia, Nienke Kremers, Mirjam Sijtsma, Vera Vorstenbosch

Subs: Eva Bots, Carlien Dirkse van den Heuvel, Tessa de Haas

Coach: Robbert Paul AAlbregt

Cards: NED Vera Vorstenbosch (G, 65:00)

Umpires: Soledad Iparraguirre (ARG), Alecia Takeda (MEX)