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Sept. 18, 2005
Katie O’Donnell scored two goals as the USA Field Hockey women’s under-21 team fought back from behind for the third time in four games to defeat Chile, 3-1, in the second phase of competition at the Women’s Junior World Cup.
With the win, the USA remains atop the Pool E standings with seven points. The USA has two games remaining in the pool against Australia on Tuesday before concluding Pool play against Spain on Wednesday. The top two teams in the pool qualify for the tournament semifinals.
The USA controlled play throughout the first half but was unable to convert on three penalty corner opportunities.
With another large crowd providing support for the home team, Chile took advantage of one of its only trips deep into the U.S. circle to score a goal when American Univ. sophomore Denise Infante knocked in a loose ball in front of the cage to give Chile a 1-0 halftime lead.
But like they have in a 4-2 win over England and a 2-2 draw with the Netherlands, the U.S. clawed back in the second half.
“Going into halftime a goal down didn’t upset us at all,” said U.S. forward Katie Grant who helped spark the second half comeback. “It just pumped us more. We just came out with some fire. We looked to get the ball into the circle and rip some shots and that’s what we did.”
Seven minutes into the second half, Grant wove her way into the Chile circle and dished a pass in front of the cage that O’Donnell deposited into the back of the goal to pull the USA even at 1-1.
“It was one of those adrenaline things,” said Grant. “i just started going and going. We had discussed how aggressive this keeper was so when I saw her coming out I just put it in the middle hoping someone could put it in.”
The USA pulled ahead seven minutes later when Lauren Crandall (Doyelstown, Pa./Wake Forest) smashed a penalty corner blast into the back of the cage for her fourth goal of the tournament and a 2-1 U.S. lead.
O’Donnell added her second goal of the game with five minutes left in the game to seal the win and keep alive the USA hopes for a semifinal berth.
“We came out really strong in the second half,” said USA coach Tracey Fuchs. “Scoring three goals in the second half against a good team like Chile is really awesome. But we’re just going to keep taking them one game at a time. We have Australia next and that should be a really fun match.”
USA U21 3, Chile 1
CHI: Denise Infante (FG, 25:00)USA: Katie O’Donnell (FG, 42:00)USA: Lauren Crandall (PC, 58:00)USA: Katie O’Donnell (FG, 65:00)
USA Starters: Lori Hillman, Katie O’Donnell, Katie Grant, Mia Link, Katelyn Falgowski, Amy Stopford, Lauren Crandall, Rachel Dawson, Lauren Powley, Heather Schnepf, Katherine Blair (GK)
Subs: Katie Evans, Michelle Kasold, Laree Beans
Coach: Tracey Fuchs
Chile Starters: Constanza Abud (GK), Sofia Walbaum, Andrea Sanchez, Catalina Thierman, Francisca Pizarro, Carolina Garcia, Camila Infante, Maria Jose Fernandez, Beatriz Albertz, Daniela Caram, Pilar Donoso
Subs: Alexandra Sclabos, Francisca Pizarro, Christina Wagner, Pilar Donoso
Coach: Alfredo CastroCards: CHI – Pilar Donoso (G, 54), Carolina Garcia (G, 68:00); USA – Heather Schnepf (G, 47:00)
Umpires: Alison Hill (ENG), Lisa Roach (AUS)