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USA Field Hockey Women Stun China at Champions Challenge
By Howard Thomas // U.S. Field Hockey Association // June 11, 2007
BAKU, Azerbaijan – A young USA Field Hockey Women's National Team earned a 2-1 win over China for the team's first victory at the AtaHoldings Champions Challenge.
Rachel Dawson (Berlin, N.J.) - a 2006 WorldHockey Young Player of the Year nominee - and Michelle Kasold (Chapel Hill, N.C.) scored their first career international goals to lead the USA to the win.
The USA roster for the tournament averages just 31 international matches and includes six players making their first world-level tournament appearance. Pam Bustin (Univ. of Louisville head coach) is serving as head coach for the USA at the tournament.
After quelling an early China attack, the USA got on the scoreboard late in the second half when Dawson connected on a penalty corner shot to give the USA a 1-0 halftime lead.
The USA added to the advantage midway through the second half when Kasold picked up a loose ball in the circle and fired it past Chinese goalkeeper Zhang Yi Meng to give the USA a 2-0 lead.
China's Song Quing Ling put her team on the scoreboard with four minutes remaining in the game, but the USA defense and goalkeeper Amy Tran (Grantville, Pa.) withstood the attack to give the USA the win. In other games on the second day of play, Korea defeated England 4-2 and New Zealand topped host Azerbaijan 1-0.
The win moves the USA to 1-1-0) at the tournament behind tourney leader Korea (2-0-0) and tied with England (1-1-0), China (1-1-0) and New Zealand (1-1-0) for second place. Azerbaijan dropped to 0-2. Following a day off on Monday, the USA resumes play Tuesday against England.
The tournament marks 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.
USA 2, China 1
USA: Rachel Dawson (PC, 33:00)
USA: Michelle Kasold (FG, 53:00)
CHN: Song Quing Ling (FG, 66:00)
USA Starters: Melissa Leonetti, Rachel Dawson, Sarah Dawson, Tiffany Snow, Dana Sensenig, Michelle Kasold, Katelyn Falgowski, Dina Rizzo, Amy Tran (GK), Lauren Crandall, Lauren Powley
Reserves: Laura Suchoski, Sara Silvetti, April Fronzoni, Claire Laubach
DNP: Jill Dedman (GK), Vianney Campos, Caroline Nichols
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