Japan edge past US Women by 3-2 in final of five-match hockey series
The senior women hockey squad of Japan emerged victorious over US by 3-2 in the final game of the five-match series held at the Olympics Training Centre in Californian city of Chula Vista on April 29, 2011.
It was the Japan’s second victory in the series after one tie and two defeats against the USA team. With the second consecutive win, the visitors succeeded to draw the series at 2-2.
Lee Bodimeade, the head coach of the US Women team, while talking to the media said that the contest against the world’s best teams provided them great opportunity to improve their game. He commented, “The opportunity to play five games against a top ten
team in the world provides a huge benefit to our program going forward. It’s frustrating today to dominate statistically, but not come away with the desired result.”
The game between Japanese women and US Team was played at a very high tone, as one wanted to capture the series, while other wanted to tie the results. The Japanese women scored three goals against the two of their competitors in the crucial game.
Japan opened the game quite aggressively and scored three goals in the first half of play, while holding US team goal-less in the period. The Japanese women started attacks from the very first minute of the game. The US team committed fouls and gave opponent
chances to score goals, which they did not miss. Akutsu Chie and Mitsuhashi Aki scored two and one goal respectively in the first 35 minutes of play and put Japan ahead on the score-board. The US Women team obtained a couple of penalty-corners in the period,
but failed to capitalise them. First half action was concluded with Japan hanging on to a 3-0 lead in the game.
Owing to inapt defensive positions of the US team, the Japanese women took a commanding lead. They availed all the chances and accomplished speedy passes for perfect attacks.
The US women were found struggling since the start of the second half of play, as the fight between the two sides could not allow them any further score in the opening minutes of the second period. The strikers of the US team especially cranked up their
offence and started aggressive game onto the field.
Katie O’Donnell in the 45th minute of the game found an opportunity and scored the first goal of the day for the US team. She managed to take the ball away and unleashed a flicking shot right into the goal-post. In the later time, the US team
was awarded a short-corner. Claire Laubach connected the ball to score the second goal for her side. However, all the h**l broke out with the final whistle of the time completion and Japan won the game to close out the series with a 2-2 draw.
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