USA Field Hockey News

USA Field Hockey Women Down New Zealand 1-0 in World Cup Qualifier
Schedule & Results

Carrie Lingo celebrates with Dina Rizzo (L) and Angie Loy following her goal in a 1-0 win over New Zealand

ROME - Carrie Lingo scored the game's only goal and the USA defense held on to beat New Zealand 1-0 in the World Cup Qualifying Tournament.

In her first game back from a series of injuries, Lingo slapped in a free hit from in front of the goal with 13 minutes remaining in the game.

"It was an entire team effort from front to back for the entire 70 minutes," said Lingo who played in her first international match since July of 2005. "I just happened to be the who finished it at that moment in time."

Playing against the world's No. 6 ranked team, the USA dominated the first half while keeping New Zealand pinned in its own end for much of the first 35 minutes.

But the USA could not convert on a number of opportunities when  New Zealand stuffed three U.S. corner attempts and a blast by Angie Loy (Loysville, Pa.) was deflected over the cage and April Fronzoni (Larksville, Pa.) couldn't get a stick on the ball in a tangle in with New Zealand goalkeeper Beth Jurgeleit in front of the Kiwi cage.

"We thought if we could persist throughout the game and continue with pressure we wanted to put on them, then hopefully the result would take care of itself," said U.S. coach Lee Bodimeade. "We had to believe that we would get more opportunities and that persistence eventually got the goal for us."

Bodimeade credited his team's multiple chances to the swarming pressure the USA kept on New Zealand for the entire game.

"We had a game plan and a lot of respect for (New Zealand defender Diana) Weavers in the back and some of the distribution we wanted to limit the amount of influence she had at that stage. Thankfully the girls had a good idea of the type of press we wanted and were able to execute it. I think that was certainly something that contributed to the amount of (scoring) chances we had."

Following Lingo's goal, the USA withstood a final assault by New Zealand that included five penalty corner opportunities in the final five minutes. But each time, goalkeeper Amy Tran (Grantville, Pa.) and the U.S. defense came up with crucial saves held on to preserve the win.

With the victory, the USA raises its record to 1-0-1 while New Zealand falls to 1-1.

"We're certainly not getting ahead of ourselves," said Bodimeade on the team's next game against host Italy. "That's a big challenge for us to go out and try to put two in a row and see what we can accomplish against Italy."

USA 1, New Zealand 0
USA: Carrie Lingo (FG, 57:00)

USA Starters: Angie Loy, Kelly Doton, Robyn Kenney, Rachel Dawson, Tiffany Snow, Sara Silvetti, Kate Barber, Dina Rizzo, Amy Tran (GK), Kristi Gannon, Lauren Powley
Coach: Lee Bodimeade

Reserves: Kayla Bashore, April Fronzoni, Carrie Lingo, Claire Laubach

New Zealand Starters: Emily Naylor, Krystal Forgesson, Stacey Carr, Suzie Muirhead, Beth Jurgeleit (GK), Diana Weavers, Jane Maley, Fracnes Kreft, Niniwa Roberts, Tara Drysdale, Kate Mahon, Charlotte Harrisson
Coach: Ian Rutledge

Reserves: Elizabeth Ryan, Jane Maley

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