Michelle Vizzuso Scores First International Goal in Competition

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May 26, 1998

Utretcht, THE NETHERLANDS — The United States Women’s Field Hockey team defeated Scotland 2-1 in the 1998 World Cup yesterday and stands in fifth place in the preliminary pool play through four games. The University of Virginia is represented on the team by two seniors, Michelle Vizzuso (Fairfield, N.J./West Essex) and Lori Mastropietro (Richboro, Pa./Council Rock).

Vizzuso scored her first international goal in the US team’s game against Australia, which was the Stars and Stripes’ only goal in the 6-1 loss to the defending World Champions. Earlier in the competition the United States lost to Germany 5-1 and to South Africa 2-1. Vizzuso was named a first team All-American in 1997 and is one of only two players with collegiate eligibilty on the team.

Mastropietro is expected to step into a significant role with the unfortunate loss of longtime team member Jill Reeve, who tore her ACL in the game against Scotland. Reeve, who starts at sweeper, was a member of the 1994 bronze medal team at the World Cup. Mastropietro, who was a third-team All-American at sweeper for Virginia, anchored the nation’s top scoring defense as the Cavaliers allowed less than a goal per game. She joins Vizzuso as the only two members of the team with college eligibilty remaining.

The United States’ next game is against sixth-place China on Wednesday, May 27 at 6:30 am (EDT). The top four teams of each pool will advance to the medal round. The US needs to defeat China and get some help from other countries in the pool to advance. In third place is South Africa, who faces Australia, and in fourth place is Scotland, who will play Germany.