U.S. National Field Hockey Squad Downs Mexico, 5-0, in Americas Cup Opener
3/9/2001 7:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
March 9, 2001
by Howard Thomas
U.S. Field Hockey
KINGSTON, Jamaica - Tara Jelley scored two goals and goalkeepers Peggy Storrar and Amy Tran combined for a shutout as the U.S. Field Hockey women's national team downed Mexico, 5-0, in the Americas Cup opener for both teams.
The U.S. quickly posted its first score of the tournament when Univ. of Michigan All-America selection Kelli Gannon scored on a field goal five minutes into the game. Jelley added her first goal of the match nine minutes later, and Autumn Welsh (Macungie, Pa.) scored her first career goal as a member of the U.S. senior national team at the 24 minute mark to give the USA a 3-0 halftime lead. Kristen McCann of the Univ. of North Carolina extended the U.S. lead three minutes into the second half with a goal off a penalty corner, and Jelley concluded the scoring with a penalty corner goal with eight minutes remaining in the game.
Head coach Tracey Belbin and the U.S. will take on Jamaica in the round-robin tournament on Friday. In other opening games, Canada edged Uruguay, 2-1, and host Jamaica defeated Venezulea, 3-0.
A qualifying event for the 2002 International Hockey Federation World Cup, the Americas Cup features seven teams from North, South and Central America and the Caribbean including Argentina, Canada, Mexico, Jamaica, Uruguay, the United States and Venezuela. The winner of the tournament qualifies automatically for the 2002 World Cup in Perth, Australia, while the next highest placing teams are expected to earn invitations to the World Cup Qualifying Tournament, Sept. 18-30 in Abbeville, France.
March 8 at Kingston USA 5, Mexico 0 USA: Kelli Gannon (fg, 5:00) USA: Tara Jelley (fg, 14:00) USA: Autumn Welsh (pc, 24:00) USA: Kristen McCann (pc, 38:00) USA: Tara Jelley (pc, 62:00) USA Starters: Kristen McCann, Peggy Storrar (gk), Tracey Larson, Kelli Gannon, Tracey Fuchs, Katie Kauffman, Carla Tagliente, Jill Reeve, Abby Martin, Autumn Welsh, Kate Barber SUBS: Tara Jelley, Kristi Gannon, Melanie Meerschwam, Carrie Lingo, Amy Tran (gk) Mexico Starters: M. Garcia (gk), R. Leanos, L. Hernandez, S. Pichardo, O. Gracia, A. Tagle, Y. Zepeda, Y. Vazquez, C. Garica, T. Tarquez, A. Castellanos
Howard Thomas
US Field Hockey
usfha@usfieldhockey.com
719-578-4567
