Oct. 6, 2006
Courtsey of US Field Hockey
MADRID, Spain - USA Field Hockey's Tiffany Snow, a former Lady Monarch and Honda Award Winner, scored a goal early in the first half as the USA hung on to defeat Olympic gold medalist Germany, 1-0, at the World Cup.
With the win, the USA advances to the 5th/6th place game against Japan on Saturday and ensures the team's best World Cup showing since a third place finish in 1994 and its third top six finish since 1982. The USA entered the World Cup as the No. 11 seed with a No. 12 world ranking.
"I'm just really excited about the way the girls have approached it," said U.S. coach Lee Bodimeade who experienced World Cup glory as a bronze medalist for Australia's men's team in 1994. "I thought we were coming along nicely after our first two losses, but today's a big one. For us to get over the top against such a quality opponent as the Germans, I'm just very, very happy."
The USA attack controlled much of the first half, but the team could not come away with a goal after numerous trips inside the German circle. Meanwhile, the USA defense limited the opportunities of Germany's FIH Player of the Year candidates Natascha Keller and Fannie Rinne and the teams went into halftime tied at 0-0.
"Germany's one of the best team's in the world and we knew they were going to come at us," said Bodimeade on his talk with the team at halftime. "We knew we had two choices. We could be happy with our performance and walk away with a 7th or 8th place finish, or we could step up and put ourselves on the line. It wasn't even a decision for these girls. Even if we didn't win it wasn't going to be because we didn't have a go at it."
The USA wasted no time in giving it a go as Snow settled a pass in the middle of the circle and slammed the ball past Germany goal keeper Yvonne Frank two minutes into the second half.
"It's just a team effort," said Snow on her game-winning score. "I just happened to be in the right place at the right time."
The USA continued to use that team effort to deny Germany throughout the rest of the second half. Goalkeeper Amy Tran made a key save of a Rinne penalty corner attempt and the USA defense successfully cleared German efforts inside the circle as the final seconds ticked off the clock.
The win was the third in a row for the USA (3-2-1) since a pair of opening losses to No. 2 Argentina and No. 3 Australia. The USA will now play a Japan team it played to a 0-0 draw earlier in the tournament.
"We're very excited," said Snow following the victory. "We're very excited to be where we're at, but we have one more to go."