USA Field Hockey News

USA Field Hockey Women Draw with Ireland to Open World Cup Qualifier
Schedule & Results

Kelly Doton's last minute penalty corner goal gave the USA a 1-1 draw with Ireland

ROME - Kelly Doton converted a penalty corner with 30 seconds left in the game as the USA Field Hockey national team salvaged a 1-1 draw with Ireland in the first game of the World Cup Qualifying Tournament.

The top five teams from the 10-team qualifier will earn spots in September's World Cup in Madrid.

"We don't like to have to have it come down to the wire like that," said Doton. "But a draw is better than a loss, so we'll take it."

The USA was forced into come-back mode after Ireland's Cathy McKean deflected a pass off of USA goalkeeper Amy Tran (Grantville, Pa.) and into the USA goal six minutes into the second half.

The USA dominated possession throughout the second half and had five second half penalty corner opportunities to none for Ireland. The USA had eight penalty corners for the game while Ireland managed three.

"From our experiences in Argentina a month ago we knew Ireland was going to be tough and hard - they always are." said U.S. coach Lee Bodimeade. "We just focused on persisting and persisting. We knew it might take a while for us to get a crack it and get an opportunity whether it was in the last minute or no."

"We were a bit disappointed," added Bodimeade.  "We had plenty of corner opportunities early that we just didn't capitalize on, but to the girls' credit they persisted."

The persistence paid off with just seconds remaining as Doton blasted the shot past Ireland keeper Anglea Platt and into the boards to secure the team's first point of the tournament.

"We had a lot of momentum and I was feeling it on that one," said Doton. "Luckily coach called my number and I just stepped up and hit it in."

The USA continues tournament play on Thursday against No. 2 seed New Zealand on Thursday.

"We're probably better for the run," said Bodimeade on playing one of the world's top teams after the draw with Ireland. "There's something about our team that they really get a lift and seize the opportunity to play against the world's top nations. We're looking forward to it."

USA Starters: Angie Loy, Kelly Doton, Rachel Dawson, Tiffany Snow, April Fronzoni, Claire Laubach, Kate Barber, Dina Rizzo, Amy Tran (GK), Kristi Gannon, Lauren Powley
Coach: Lee Bodimeade

Reserves:Kayla Bashore, Melissa Leonetti, Robyn Kenney, Kelsey Keeran, Sara Silvetti,

Ireland Starters: Anglea Platt (GK), Fiona Connery, Linda Caulfield, Catriona Carey, Jenny McDonough, Cathy McKean, Ciara O'Brien, Jill Orbinson, Nikki Symmons, Clare Parkhill
Coach: Riet Kuper

Reserves: Suzanne Beaney, Bridget McKeever, Katharine Elkin

 

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