USA Field Hockey News

USA Women, Australia, Battle to 3-3 Draw in Series Opener

Virginia Beach, Va. – Dina Rizzo (Walpole, Mass.) scored the tying goal with two minutes remaining in the game as the USA Field Hockey women's national team salvaged a 3-3 draw against Australia at the National Training Center.

Rizzo's game-tying heroics came after the USA saw a 2-0 second half advantage evaporate into a 3-2 Australian lead with nine minutes remianing inthe game.

"I'm please with the way we played, but I'm honestly disappointed with the result," said USA coach Lee Bodimeade. "I felt we were the best team on the field today. But it was a very good contest. Our plan was to go really hard at the Australians and that's what we did."

After a scoreless first half, the USA got on the scoreboard when Tiffany Snow (Escondido, Calif.) converted a penalty stroke to give the USA a 1-0 lead. The former NCAA Player of the Year at nearby Old Dominion Univ., Snow added a field goal six minutes later to up the USA advantage to 2-0.

The lead was short lived however as Sarah Taylor scored the first of three consecutive Australia goals two minutes later to cut the lead to 2-1. Megan Rivers tied the game for Australia on a field goal in the 58th minute before Ursula Ditton gave Australia its first lead of the game in the 61st minute.

Rizzo's goal in the final minutes gave the USA its first draw with the world's third ranked team since a 2-2 draw in Sydney in 1999. The United States women are currently rated 10th in the international rankings.

The series with Australia continues with game two on Sunday (7 p.m.) with game three scheduled for June 8 and the final game on June 11.

The USA is using the series to continue its preparations for the Rabobank Champions Challenge at Virginia Beach. One of international field hockey's premier events, the tournament will feature the national teams of England, Japan, New Zealand, South Africa, Spain and the USA.

USA 3, Australia 3

USA: Tiffany Snow (PS, 43:00)
USA: Tiffany Snow (FG, 49:00)
AUS: Megan Rivers (FG, 51:00)
AUS: Sarah Taylor (FG, 58:00)
AUS: Ursula Ditton (FG, 61:00)
USA: Dina Rizzo (PC, 68:00)

USA Starters: Melissa Leonetti, Kelly Doton, Robyn Kenney, Kristen Holmes-Winn, Sara Silvetti, Carrie Lingo, Katie O'Donnell, Kate Barber, Dina Rizzo, Amy Tran (GK), Lauren Powley

Reserves: Angie Loy, Tara Jelley, Lauren Crandall, Tiffany Snow, Kelly Dostal

Australia Starters: Karen Smith, Megan Rivers, Susannah Harris, Rebecca Sansers, Madoona Blyth, Nicole Arnold, Rachel Imison (GK), Angie Skirving, Melanie Twitt, Ursula Ditton, Sarah Taylor

Reserves: Emily Holiday, Kobie McGurk, Finoa Johnson, Donna-Lee Patrick, Teneal Attard
 

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