Aug. 5, 2003

Check out the story and an action photo of Dina Rizzo on usfieldhockey.com.

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic - Former Terrapin field hockey All-American Dina Rizzo (Maryland '02) netted a goal as the U.S. Field Hockey women's national team earned a berth in the Pan American Games semifinals with a 5-0 win over Uruguay at the Parque del Este Hockey Stadium. Terp alumnae Katie Kauffman-Beach (Maryland '97), Keli Smith (Maryland '01) and Rizzo continue play with the national squad in Santo Domingo on Thursday.

With the win, the U.S. secured at least a second place finish in Pool B of the eight-team tournament, and can now clinch the pool's top seed with a win or draw against Canada at 7:30 p.m. on Aug. 7. The women's semifinals are scheduled for Aug. 10.

"We played well," said U.S. coach Beth Anders. "We did more things rights, we played consistently, we made good decisions and I think we really played well."

After a slow start to the 8:30 a.m. game, the U.S. finally got on the scoreboard with a Tracey Fuchs penalty corner goal in the 32nd minute. The goal sparked the team to a second Fuchs corner goal two minutes later for a 2-0 halftime lead.

Dina Rizzo (Walpole, Mass.) continued the momentum for the U.S. early in the second half when she netted a Tracey Larson (Morrisville, Pa.) for a 3-0 U.S. lead.

"Lars made a great run and overlapped all the way down the endline," said Rizzo. "I saw the whole play happening and I just ran to my spot by the post and got my stick down. It popped in and I got lucky."

Fuchs added her third goal of the day and fifth of the off a penalty corner in the 49th minute before Kate Barber (West Chester, Pa.) concluded the scoring with her second goal of the tournament in the 53rd minute.

Uruguay was credited for just one shot on the day as the U.S. extended a shutout streak over Pan American Games teams other than Argentina to 14 games. U.S. goalkeeper Peggy Storrar (Mahopac, N.Y.) has collected or shared the shutout in the last seven of those contests, including the 5-0 shutout of Jamaica to open the 2003 Pan Am Games.

The game also marked the 50th international contest for the USA's Kristen McCann (Allentown, Pa.).

"It's not over yet," said Anders on her team's goals for pool play. "We still need a win or tie against Canada. It's going to be a challenge. Part of the tournament is being consistent and that's what we're going to try to do."

USA 5, Uruguay 0 USA: Tracey Fuchs (pc, 32:00) USA: Tracey Fuchs (pc, 34:00) USA: Dina Rizzo (fg, 40:00) USA: Tracey Fuchs (pc, 49:00) USA: Kate Barber (pc, 53:00)

United States Starters: Kristen McCann, Peggy Storrar (GK), Tara Jelley, Tracey Larson, Kelli Gannon, Tracey Fuchs, Katie Beach, Keli Smith, Jill Reeve, Carrie Lingo, Kate Barber

Reserves: Robyn Kenney, Dina Rizzo, Abbey Woolley, Jessica Coleman

Uruguay

Starters: Andrea Fazzio (GK), Maria Chiara, Maria Ceretta, Lorena Margni, Patricia Bueno, Maria Ines Arigon, Ana Ines Hernandez, Maria Margni, Virginia Casabo, Carolina Mutilva, Mariana Rios.

Reserves: maria Perez, Adriana Boullosa, Patricia Carlucio, Anna Bisignano

Cards: Kelli Gannon (G, 51:00)

Umpires: Allison Hill (GBR), Claudia Videla (CHI)