Wake Forest Athletics
USA Field Hockey Women Earn Spot in Pan American Semifinals
7/17/2007 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
July 17, 2007
RIO DE JANEIRO - The USA Field Hockey team earned a spot in the Pan American Semifinals with a 7-0 shutout over Cuba at the Pan American Games. With the win, the USA moved to 2-0 in pool play and can secure Pool B's top seed in the semifinals with a win or draw against Canada (0-2) on Thursday.
Former Demon Deacon Kelly Doton scored two goals against Cuba, while recent graduate Lauren Crandall earned a starting spot and junior midfielder Michelle Kasold saw time as a reserve.
The USA took a 2-0 lead in the first five minutes of the game and continued its domination with a 4-0 lead after the first half.
The USA faces Canada on Thursday to conclude pool play before Saturday's semifinals. The team opened the Pan Am games with a 4-1 victory over Netherlands Antilles.
The US squad has won medals in each Pan Am Games since the women's tournament was added to the quadrennial event in 1987, winning silver in 1987, 1995, 1999 and 2003 and a bronze in 1991. Argentina has won all five previous women's Pan Am Games tournaments.
The winner of the Pan Am Games earns the continent's automatic berth in the 2008 Olympic Games which are being held in Beijing. In addition, teams placing 2-6 in the women's tournament will earn spots in one of three Olympic Qualifying Tournaments in early 2008. The winners of the three qualifying tournaments will earn the final three berths in the 2008 Olympic Games.
