After an tournament full of drama, comebacks, dodgy umpiring and just plain bad luck, the hockey gods finally smiled on the United States women’s Olympic field hockey team at the Green Hockey Stadium.
Keli Smith had a goal in each half as the United States ran out 4-1 winners over the current Oceania Cup champions, New Zealand. Smith had the opener for the United States on a breathtaking field goal less than 40 seconds into the match. The Kiwis were set further back on their heels by a stifling high line of pressure which caused numerous turnovers and free hits in dangerous positions.
Angie Loy ran a perfect high-low penalty corner 10 minutes after Smith’s opener to give the Applebees a 2-0 lead. The Black Sticks cut the deficit in half shortly after the interval when Joanne Galletly tipped corner specialist Lizzy Igasan’s low drag flick ball past a diving Amy Tran. Five minutes later, New Zealand almost drew level when the 18-year-old sensation Gemma Flynn knifed up the pitch and left the U.S. defense sprawling, but her angled shot flew well wide.
The Kiwi insurrection only steeled the American resolve, and the Applebees converted consecutive penalty corners in the 42nd and 48th minutes to take a 4-1 lead. Smith banged in an option left from 15 yards out, while Kayla Bashore scored on a flash corner, tipping in Kelly Doton’s feed from the stroke mark.
The American goals were not only important for securing the result, but for goal differential. As the game ended, the United States and Argentina were tied for second place in Pool B — not only in points (five), but goal differential (+1).
Later in the day, however, Argentina thumped pool leader Germany 4-0, setting up a situation where the Americans not only need to beat Great Britain in the final pool match, but need New Zealand to defeat Argentina, and to make up four goals’ worth of goal differential in the process.
United States 2-2 — 4
New Zealand 0-1-1
USA: Smith, FG, 1st
USA: Loy (Doton, Barber), PC, 11th
NZL: Galletly (Igasan, Naylor), PC, 37th
USA: Smith (Barber, Loy), PC, 42nd
USA: Bashore (Doton, Barber), PC, 48th
Shots– USA: 8; NZL: 7.
Saves– USA: Tran 5, defensive 1; NZL: Jurgeleit 3, defensive 1
