Indoor field hockey has had world championship competition since the start of the millennium. And despite the time and energy that is expended in the United States to form teams and competitions, the American national side has been a mere afterthought on the world scene.
That is, until today.
In what could be a watershed day for the United States indoor field hockey program, the U.S. men took a 7-4 win over Argentina, and the U.S. women shut out New Zealand 9-0.
These are results which are unheard of for American field hockey sides. On the men’s side, Argentina is several levels above the United States in the outdoor game. In outdoor games, the last time the United States got at least a point off Argentina in a major world-level competition was a 1-1 draw in the 1991 Pan American Games. Just about every other result were wins for Argentina.
In the pool match, the United States got three goals from Aki Kaeppler and a good performance in goal from Jonathan Klages. The States, against all odds, lead Pool B with one matchday to go in the preliminary round. The U.S. have clinched a berth in the knockout phase of the competition, but the crossover round against Pool A could mean having to play strong teams like Austria and Holland if the U.S. cannot get a result tomorrow against Australia.
On the women’s side, the States needed the win over New Zealand, given the video-game numbers that pool leader Holland has been putting up during this competition. Duke University product Hannah Miller had a hat trick for the States, while the young teen corps for this side — 14-year-old Reese D’Ariano, 15-year-old Opal Sperling, and 17-year-olds Abigail Burnett and Sydney Mandato — have been playing a brand of hockey belying their years.
The U.S. women have one more pool game, against leaders Holland. The States and South Africa are tied for the final playoff berth in their pool, and South Africa has a game against New Zealand tomorrow. The odds are not with the U.S. women, but there’s every opportunity to get into the knockout phase if New Zealand is able to beat South Africa.
It will be an interesting denouement to this competition, believe me.
TopOfTheCircle.com 
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