USA Field Hockey News

Kelly Doton reacts to her first half goal against Australia. Doton's goal was her second of the tournament.

Australia Downs USA Field Hockey Women at World Cup, 3-1

MADRID  –  Third-seeded Australia scored two unanswered goals to break open a tight game and down the USA Field Hockey Women’s National Team, 3-1, in the second day of play at the Samsung World Cup.

The loss drops the USA to 0-2 at the tournament while Australia raises its record to 2-0.

“The cold hard fact is we were outplayed,” said U.S. coach Lee Bodimeade. “We had a game plan that we thought would work and we probably didn’t adhere to that plan as much as we should have. When you do that against these top sides - when you get away from the things you are supposed to do -  you get punished and that’s the end of the story.”

Australia opened the scoring in the eighth minute when Sarah Taylor knocked in a ball in a scramble off a penalty corner for a 1-0 Australia lead.

The USA answered just three minutes later when Kelly Doton connected on her second penalty corner goal of the tournament to tie the game at 1-1.

The teams continued to exchange counterattacks until the final minutes of the half when Australia’s Nikki Hudson drove a diving shot past U.S. goalkeeper Amy Tran to give her team a 2-1 halftime lead.

The U.S. threatened to draw even once again but after the team could not get off a shot in on a penalty corner attempt and forward Keli Smith could not get a stick on a pass in front of the Australian goal, Australia sealed the victory on Angie Skirving’s penalty corner goal with 13 minutes left in the game.

The USA will take a day off on Friday before resuming Pool B play against Japan.

“You might argue that based on our rankings as No. 11 in the world, that our tournament really starts now – now  that we’re no longer playing teams in ranked in the top four,” said Bodimeade whose team face No. 2 Argentina in the tournament opener before taking on third-seeded Australia. “Unfortunately, I just believe that based on how much we’ve improved, that we should be winning every game.”

Australia 3, USA 1
AUS: Sarah Taylor (PC, 8:00)
USA: Kelly Doton (PC, 11:00)
AUS: Nikki Hudson (FG, 34:00)
AUS: Angie Skirving (PC, 57:00)
* The game marked the 100^th career international match for USA midfielder Carrie Lingo