Team USA Ties Argentina in Opening Game
August 11, 2008 | Field Hockey
Aug. 11, 2008
BEIJING - By Jeff Gamza - USA Field Hockey - August 10, 2008
U.S. field hockey returned to the Olympic Games for the first time since 1996 with a 2-2 draw against Argentina at the Olympic Green Hockey Stadium on Sunday.
The USA looked to be outmatched early by the number two team in the world as Argentina charged to a 2-0 lead in the first eleven minutes. But the Americans persevered and orchestrated a dramatic rally, capped by Angie Loy's goal in the 64th minute to tie the game and pick up one point in the standings.
The draw is a tremendous momentum boost for the eleventh-ranked USA, hoping to reclaim their spot as one of the world's top field hockey teams. Argentina is the top-ranked team in the USA's pool. The two teams dueled in the 2007 Pan American Cup final, with Argentina taking a 4-2 victory and the automatic bid for the 2008 Olympic Games.
Argentina striker Carla Rebecchi was in prime form early, scoring quickly for Las Leonas, tipping a penalty corner shot from Noel Barrionuevo into the corner of the goal. Six minutes later, she knocked in a field goal to put Argentina ahead 2-0 and looking to dominate.
The Americans quickly regrouped. Keli Smith's deflection from a Rachel Dawson shot on a penalty corner gave the USA their first goal in the 18th minute, as well as a boost of confidence.
The defense consolidated. Argentina forced 11 penalty corners and only converted one.
Amy Tran, making her 100th international appearance, was impenetrable in the second half, denying several Argentina scoring opportunities with brilliant saves. Even more remarkable for the U.S. defense was the fact that both Kate Barber and Kayla Bashore were both separately sent off for yellow card fouls, leaving the Americans with only ten players for almost twenty minutes of the second half.
In weather conditions that ranged from a dull drizzle to a steady downpour, the USA chipped away at the Argentine defense.
With six minutes remaining, Kelly Doton launched a shot from above the scoring circle. Angie Loy picked up the pass and scored the second goal for the U.S. to tie the game. The heads of several Argentina players dropped.
The USA had the opportunity to win the game in the closing seconds with a penalty corner goal, but Argentina successfully blocked the shot.
The U.S. Olympic Team for Women's Field Hockey returns to competition against Japan on Tuesday, August 12. Japan, ranked number six in the world, defeated New Zealand, 2-1, in play earlier in the day. The United States is slotted in Pool B with Argentina, Germany, Great Britain, Japan and New Zealand.
For more information on USA Field Hockey, visit www.usafieldhockey.com .
