USA Field Hockey News

USA Field Hockey Women Draw with Australia; Netherlands Draws with Argentina at the AstroTurf March on Madrid Tournament

COLLEGE PARK, Md.  – The USA field hockey women played to a 1-1 draw with Australia and the Netherlands also settled for a 1-1 tie in the second day of play at the AstroTurf March on Madrid Four Nation Tournament at the Univ. of Maryland.

Following a day off on Saturday, the teams will conclude the Maryland leg of the tournament with the USA taking on Argentina and The Netherlands meeting Australia. The tournament then travels to Virginia Beach for the second round of round-robin play before concluding with the championship finals on Aug. 27.

USA 1, Australia 1

The USA women surprised No 4 world –ranked Australia with a 1-1 draw in an entertaining, fast-moving match.

“We have a nice defensive structure which gives us freedom to feel like we can move forward,” said USA coach Lee Bodimeade on his team’s counter attacking play. “Our offense was spread out and we created multiple opportunities for ourselves.”

The USA took advantage of an early one of those opportunities when Angie Loy knocked in a pass from Kelly Doton off a penalty corner to give the USA a 1-0 lead 16 minutes into the game.

The lead would not last long however as Australia’s Karen Smith rocketed a shot past USA keeper Amy Tran three minutes later to knot the game at 1-1 at halftime.

Both teams opened up in the second half as they spent the next 35 minutes racing up and down the Univ. of Maryland turf. Neither team could score however as both squads missed second half penalty strokes with Australia’s Suzie Faulkner’s attempt going wide right and Angie Loy’s attempt for the USA was saved easily by Australia’s Rachel Lynch.

The draw keeps both teams in the running for the tournament title with 0-1-1 records behind Argentina and The Netherlands with 1-0-1 marks.

“We’re right in it at this point,” said Bodimeade

Argentina 1, Netherlands 1

Argentina and The Netherlands remained atop the AstroTurf March on Madrid standings following a 1-1 draw in the evening’s opening game.

The draw left both teams tied atop the tournament standings with four points each.

Following a scoreless first half between the world’s two top ranked teams, Marine Russo put Argentina on top when she punched in a shot off the rebound in the 47nd minute.

Like they did the previous night after falling behind against the USA, the Dutch rallied in the second half and scored the equalizer when Eefke Mulder tipped in the third of three consecutive corner attempts to tie the game at 1-1.

“I’m very satisfied with how we played, Argentina and Holland are very close (in talent),” said Argentina coach Gabriel Minadeo. “Our objective was to train for the World Cup and practice game situations. Our focus was not the result. We have to make some corrections, but I’m happy overall."

www.usfieldhockey.com