USA Field Hockey News

USA Field Hockey Women Survive Azerbaijan to move to 3-0-1 at World Cup Qualifier
Schedule & Results

The USA's Robyn Kenney gets a hug from Kate Barber after giving the USA a 4-2 lead over Azerbaijan.

ROME - The USA Field Hockey women got the result they wanted with a 4-2 victory over Azerbaijan at the World Cup Qualifying Tournament. It's how they did it that most disturbed head coach Lee Bodimeade

"Disappointing," said Bodimeade after his team jumped out to a 3-0 lead and then survived a late Azerbaijan rally to hold on for the win. "We were carrying good form into it, but I don't think we executed the things we really wanted to do in this game. But I'll take three points at the international level any day."

The USA jumped out in front early when April Fronzoni (Larksville, Pa.) knocked in a ball from in front of the Azerbaijan cage in the 12th minute of play. Tiffany Snow (Escondido, Calif.) added to the lead with a field goal a minute later to give the USA a quick 2-0 advantage.

Dina Rizzo (Walpole, Mass.) extended the USA lead to 3-0 just before halftime.

"We were a little disappointed in the way we came out," said U.S. captain Kate Barber (West Chester, Pa.). "We wanted to get ahead early. That was part of our gameplan and we were successful with that. But we have a lot to look at and a lot to improve on. We have a tough game against Korea tomorrow and hopefully we can win the pool after that."

The USA maintained the lead until 13 minutes remained in the game when Azerbaijan's Zeynab Nuriyeva deflected in a ball past U.S. keeper Amy Tran (Grantville, Pa.) and Liana Nuriyeva added a field goal just two minutes later to cut the USA advantage to 3-2.

The USA quickly regained its composure and Robyn Kenney (Readington, N.J.) knocked in a pass from Barber with 4:00 left in the game to secure the win for the USA.

The win raises the USA record at the tournament to 3-0-1 with one pool game remaining against Korea on Tuesday. A Korea victory over New Zealand in the late game would clinch a spot in the tournament semifinals and send the USA to the World Cup this September in Madrid.

"The good thing is we are in control of what we're doing," said Bodemeade on the USA's path to a World Cup berth. "If things fall our way, that's great. But again, we're in a position where the outcome is up to us. But if we keep going down this path we'll be all right.
 

USA 4, Azerbaijan 2
USA: April Fronzoni (FG, 12:00)
USA: Tiffany Snow (FG, 13:00)
USA: Dina Rizzo (FG, 34:00)
AZE: Zeynab Nuriyeva (FG, 57:00)
AZE: Liana Nuriyeva (FG, 59:00)
USA: Robyn Kenney (FG, 66:00)

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

Azerbaijan Starters: Tatanya Fomina (GK), Tatanya Shukurova, Nazira Hidayatova, Zarifahon Zeynalvoa, Feruza Makayeva, Lyudmyla Chequrko, Dilfuza Mirzaliyeva, Zenab Nuriyeva, Liana Nuriyeva, Nataliya Sidorova, Inoyathon Jafarova
Coach: Mikhaylo Penkov
Reserves: Khatira Aliyeva, Gulnara Mikayilova
 

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