USA Field Hockey News

Tiffany Snow captained the USA to a 4th place finish at the Champions Challenge.

USA Field Hockey Women Place Fourth at Champions Challenge

BAKU, Azerbaijan – The USA Field Hockey Women's National Team earned a best-ever 4th place finish following a 2-1 loss to England in the bronze medal game at the AtaHoldings Champions Challenge.

The fourth place finish was the best-ever showing in four appearances at the biennial tournament that traditionally features the world's 7-12th-ranked teams. The USA had placed fifth in its three previous Champions Challenge appearances.

China won the tournament with a 2-1 win over Korea in the Championship game while New Zealand defeated host Azerbaijan 4-2 in extra time. The USA defeated China 2-1 earlier in the tournament to hand the eventual champion its only loss.

The USA's success at the tournament was also a testament to the team's progress and development after entering the event with a team averaging just 31 international matches per player. The U.S. roster included six players making their first world-level tournament appearance including Dana Sensenig (Wapwallopen, Pa.), Vianney Campos (Chula Vista, Calif.), Michelle Kasold (Chapel Hill, N.C.), Caroline Nichols (Virginia Beach, Va.) and Laura Suchoski (Wilkes-Barre, Pa.). Pam Bustin (Univ. of Louisville head coach) served as head coach for the USA at the tournament.

After a scoreless first half, the USA took the lead early in the second half when Senseing knocked in a penalty corner goal just one minute into the second period. The lead was short lived however as England's Cathy Gilliat-Smith scored a field goal just three minutes later to tie the game at 1-1.

England would strike again just four minutes later when Rachel Walker connected on a field goal in the 43rd minute and held on for the victory.

The tournament marked the USA's final international competition prior to the Pan American Games, July 15-29 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The winner of the Pan Am Games earns the continent's automatic berth in the 2008 Olympic Games.

The U.S. team will now compete on various USA Field Hockey High Performance Regional teams at the National Championships, June 17-24 in Virginia Beach.
 

England 2, USA 1
USA: Dana Sensenig (PC, 36:00)
ENG: Cathy Gilliat-Smith (FG, 39:00)
ENG: Rachel Walker (FG, 43:00)

USA Starters: Melissa Leonetti, Rachel Dawson, Sarah Dawson, Tiffany Snow, April Fronzoni, Dana Sensenig, Katelyn Falgowski, Amy Tran (GK), Caroline Nichols, Lauren Crandall, Lauren Powley

Reserves: Laura Suchoski, Sara Silvetti, Michelle Kasold, Claire Laubach, Vianney Campos

DNP:  Jill Dedman (GK), Dina Rizzo

USA Field Hockey Champions Challenge Team

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