USA Field Hockey News

USA Field Hockey Women Outlast Rain, Italy at World Cup Qualifier
Schedule & Results

Kate Barber greets Angie Loy after Loy's first half goal

ROME - The women of the USA Field Hockey team had all night and nine minutes to try and salvage a win against host team Italy. It was just enough time.

After getting a good night's sleep, Angie Loy (Loysville, Pa.) scored the game-winning goal with two minutes left in the rain-suspended match to lift the USA to a 2-1 win over Italy at the World Cup Qualifying Tournament

"We were energized," said Loy after the team came back for the early-morning conclusion of the game. "We were kind of mad we couldn't finish it out and how we had played. But we came out strong. We knew it was going to be nine minutes hard and we just fought through it."

The USA immediately put the pressure on Italy as play resumed but could not convert on three quick penalty corner attempts. The USA kept Italy on the defensive for most of the nine minutes of play and were finally rewarded when Loy batted in the team's fourth penalty corner of the new day with time winding down.

"Just down in the crunch," said Loy on her second goal of the game. "Our whole theme was determination in the circle and we got it done at the time we needed it."

The game started on Saturday evening, but was resumed on Sunday morning with 9:21 remaining in the second half after torrential rains suspended the contest.

"I felt pretty good about this morning," said USA coach Lee Bodimeade. "After the big win against New Zealand, I was I was a little bit worried how the girl's would come up against Italy, so I was pretty happy with the rain delay and the way the girl's approached it this morning.  I was comfortable we were going to get a few chances today and to get a couple of corners early and just persist and get the winner, I'm pretty happy with it."

After the largest crowd of the tournament gathered to cheer host Italy against the USA on Saturday night, Italy was without the added boost of their adoring fans when play resumed on Sunday. A sparse crowd consisting mostly of tournament officials and USA faithful returned to watch the conclusion of the match.

Before play was suspended, the USA got on the scoreboard first when Loy  scored on a field goal after Lauren Powley (Mountaintop, Pa.) and Kate Barber (West Chester, Pa.) cleared defenders from the circle.

Italy was quick to answer however as Stella Girotti slammed a penalty corner past just past the foot of USA goalkeeper Am Tran (Grantville, Pa.)

After surviving initial pressure by Italy, the USA had several first half opportunities. But two penalty corner chances and an open shot by Carrie Lingo (Rehoboth Beach, Del.) were erased by Italian goalkeeper Roberta Lilliu.

The players slogged through a heavy downpour with 15 minutes remaining in the game before officials sent the teams off the field with 9:21 left in the half. But when the rains did not subside and the field was soon flooded, officials suspended the match until the following morning.

USA 2, Italy 1

USA: Angie Loy (FG, 13:00)
ITA: Stella Girotti (PC, 16:00)
USA: Angiel Loy (PC, 68:00)

USA Starters: Angie Loy, Kelly Doton, Rachel Dawson, Tiffany Snow, Sara Silvetti, April Fronzoni, Kate Barber, Dina Rizzo, Amy Tran (GK), Kristi Gannon, Lauren Powley
Coach: Lee Bodimeade
Reserves: Kayla Bashore, Kelsey Keeran, Carrie Lingo, Claire Laubach, Melissa Leonetti

Italy Starters: Roberta Lilliu, Stella Girotti, MercedesSalessi, Simona Berrion, Maria Victoria Corso, Francesca Faustini, Daniela Possali, Alessanra Filippi, Ana Scarone, Matilde Canavosio, Tatania Nicoletti
Coach: Franco Nicola
 

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