March 22	Teams	Score	Scorers
7:00 p.m.	USA vs ARG U-19	6-4 (4-1)	Cabrey, Long, Matson (2), Paolino (2)

March 23	Teams	Score	Scorers
11:00 a.m.	USA vs ARG	1-3 (1-1)	Matson
7:00 p.m.	USA vs ARG	0-1 (0-1)

March 25	Teams	Score	Scorers
9:30 a.m.	USA vs ARG	0-1
6:30 p.m.	USA vs Uruguay	3-0 (1-0)	Erin Matson (2), Margaux Paolino

March 26	Teams	Score	Scorers
9:00 a.m.	USA vs ARG U-19	3-3 (2-1)	Matson, Paolino, Balleza
8:30 p.m.	USA vs ARG	4-3 (4-2)	Paolino (2), Matson, Cabrey

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina - March 26, 2013 - The gym was quiet as the U.S. and Argentina teams sat in the stands prior to tonight’s match. The Argentine women’s basketball squad was wrapping up practice and the hockey teams were waiting patiently for their turn. The gyms here at CeNARD, Argentina’s national high performance center for sport, are multi-purpose and shared by many teams. As basketball finished, the home hockey team began setting up the sideboards for the match. The U.S. team pitched in. That act was a subtle “thank you” in response to the hospitality the U.S. team has received at CeNARD.

The feeling prior to the start of the fourth match between the two teams was tense. While the U.S. squad has without a doubt improved in many areas the elusive first win over Argentina still hadn't come.

The U.S. jumped out to a quick lead in the first minute when Margaux Paolino finished the rebound of an Erin Matson shot from the right side of the circle. Just one minute later Matson and Paolino combined again to increase the lead to two. Goalkeeper Maria Keesling stifled the Argentine attackers in the defensive right circle with strong ground play. Argentina generated a flurry of attack in the middle of the period and Keesling made several saves while defender Maeve Doherty added two defensive saves. Argentina called a timeout at 11^th minute.

Out of the timeout, Argentina generated a quick opportunity as their left attacker dodged Keesling and passed to Emma Yanzi at the top of the circle. Doherty couldn’t turn that one away and the lead was cut to one. Argentina repeated the play just a minute later to tie the match at 2-2. The U.S. side took the restart then Mallory Weisen quickly earned a corner. On the corner Weisen’s shot hit an Argentine defender and a second corner was awarded. This time Weisen passed to Matson who fired the ball past the keeper to regain the lead in the 12^th minute.

Five minutes later U.S. attacker Marisa Balleza sent the ball back to Weisen who found Carolyn Cabrey in the circle for the finish to increase the lead 4-2 in the 17^th minute. Argentina brought high pressure for the remainder of the period but the U.S. continued to stay on the offensive and Hannah Balleza and Cabrey nearly connected for another tally in the last seconds of the half.

In the second half Argentina switched to a 2-3 zone and the U.S. quickly countered with a system change. Both teams generated attacking opportunities in the next minutes. A Doherty defensive stop and outlet to captain Meredith Long led to a dangerous crossing pass that Matson nearly reached at the post but the ball traveled just wide of the cage.

A few minutes later Argentina patiently worked the ball up the court and an Argentine attacker drew the U.S. keeper then found a diving Eugenia Nimo for the finish in the 29^th minute. Physical play escalated and U.S. Coach Denise Zelenak called a time out to settle the team.

Argentina came out of the timeout aggressive and quick to earn a penalty stroke on a controversial call. Emma Yanzi lined up to take the shot against keeper Audra Hampsch. The whistle blew and Yanzi fired a waist high shot that struck the left post with a loud bang, no goal. With time running out Argentina pulled their goalkeeper and subbed in a kicking back to try to gain an attacking advantage. The U.S. countered by putting Keesling back in the cage for the final two minutes. Argentina brought intense pressure but it wasn’t enough as the U.S. closed out the match 4-3. Tonight was the night.

“I think it’s a great step for the program to be able to compete at this level and beat a team like Argentina,” Keesling said. “I think we have more steps to take but we are definitely on the right path.”

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina - March 26, 2013 - The U.S. got on the board early when Margaux Paolino and Erin Matson combined again to score. Paolino stole the ball and passed to Matson who drove right and put the ball between the Argentine keeper’s legs for her sixth goal of the series. Ninety seconds later Paolino came up with another steal and this time took it herself, driving right and beating the keeper to put the U.S. up 2-0. U.S. attacker Hannah Balleza picked off a bad pass by Argentina and scored in a finish nearly identical to the first two goals.

Argentina fought back, earning a corner right away and was able to convert on a chest high drag to the right of the U.S. keeper. Back and forth play ensued as both teams saw scoring opportunities but failed to convert. Defender Maeve Doherty made two defensive saves in the half. The period finished with the U.S. ahead in shots 9-6 and goals 3-1.

The second half brought more exciting play with the U.S. earning many red zone chances. Defender Mallory Weisen nearly found a sprinting Paolino for another long connection but the ball was just out of reach. The Argentina U-19 side found the net again in the 25^th minute to draw within one goal. The U.S. countered and earned two attack corners but were not able to score.

The Argentina coach called her second timeout of the match and when play resumed her forwards picked off a pass and beat Hampsch on the left side of the circle even the game 3-3. The U.S. countered with more aggressive pressing and won the ball multiple times but could not regain the lead.

Next up for the squad is an 8:30 p.m. match against the Argentina seniors for the fourth of five planned matches in the series between the two national teams.

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina - March 25, 2013 - Danae Andrada Barrios, the president of the Uruguayan hockey federation greeted Coach Denise Zelenak prior to the start of tonight’s match. The teams marched out and exchanged traditional kisses on the cheek before gathering for a group photo to commemorate the contest.

The pace of the game was high from the first minute and the play was more physical than what the squad had seen in the Argentina games. Although the U.S. side was on the offensive most of the half they were outshot 7 to 3 and goalkeeper Maria Keesling turned in another strong performance in the cage. The teams were deadlocked until the 12^th minute when Erin Matson drove to the right baseline and snuck one past their keeper.

In second half the squad turned the heat on full blast and outshot the Uruguay side 10 to 2. Matson scored again at the 27^th minute, her fifth goal of the tournament, when she grabbed an errant Uruguayan pass near the top of the circle and drilled it past their goalkeeper to put the U.S. up by 2. Captain Meredith Long set up the final goal of the game from the right corner as her shot rebounded off the goalkeeper towards the net and Margaux Paolino pushed the ball across the line. The final score was 3-0 in favor of the U.S. in their only match with Uruguay.

“The team really gelled this game and the score reflected that,” said Zelenak. “They are becoming more confident in their play and effectively breaking the opponents’ systems. I am pleased with the number of quality attack opportunities we generated.”

The next match for the U.S. squad is Argentina U19 at 9:30am Tuesday morning.

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina - March 23, 2013 - Tonight’s rematch between the U.S. and Argentina was a strategic battle played before a crowd of almost two hundred people. Argentina again went with a 3-2 zone, slowed play down and looked to score off counterattacks. The U.S. came to the match with a game plan in hand to break the 3-2 and was able to generate multiple attack opportunities. Ten minutes in, Argentina countered off a turnover and despite goalkeeper Maria Keesling great save the attacker found an open teammate who was able to convert. The score at the half was 0-1.

The chess match continued in the second half with both teams creating attacking opportunities through patient play. Argentina earned a penalty stroke but U.S. goalkeeper Audra Hampsch rejected the attempt with diving stick save.

With 3:30 remaining in the match head coach Denise Zelenak substituted defender Maeve Doherty as a kicking back for Hampsch. The U.S. was able to quickly generate attacking opportunities, which resulted in a penalty stroke. The Argentine goalkeeper saved Erin Matson’s attempt but the U.S. squad wasn’t deterred and the intense play continued. The match ended in dramatic fashion with the U.S. still down by 1.

“Tonight the team performed well,” Zelenak said. “We made some key adjustments to our outletting after this morning’s game. I felt the team played with more poise and patience tonight and I was proud of how we executed the up numbers situation in the last three and a half minutes.”

Tomorrow is a rest day for the U.S. Play will resume for the squad on Monday when they take on Uruguay at 9:00 a.m. local time.

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina - March 23, 2013 - Today’s match started off slowly as the two teams sized each other up in the first half. Argentina came out in a 3-2 on defense and on attack countered with a 2-3 with lots of movement. The home squad scored first in the 13^th minute when team captain Agustina De villafane put one in off of a rebound. They nearly had a second but defender Maeve Doherty earned her first of two defensive saves for the game when she turned away a corner shot minutes later. USA posted its only goal of the match when Erin Matson stole the ball from an Argentina defender and beat the goalkeeper with two minutes left in the first half.

Argentina brought more pressure in the second half and regained the lead one minute in on a penalty stroke followed by a third goal at the 29^th minute on a penalty corner to increase their lead by two. Team USA fought back but was unable to score despite generating a lot of attack and earning multiple corners in the last ten minutes of the match.

“Today’s game was a learning experience for our team,” said captain Meredith Long. “It is a good starting point and we have room to grow. We are looking forward to implementing some adjustments when we face Argentina again tonight."

USA will face Argentina tonight at 7:00pm local time.

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina - March 22, 2013 - The U.S. opened their South American tour tonight against host Argentina’s Under-19 Squad. The match was held at CeNARD, Argentina's high performance sports center. Carolyn Cabrey broke the ice at 8:04 after a give and go combination with Erin Matson down the right side. Matson scored two in the first half including a penalty stroke. Captain Meredith Long closed out the first half scoring, firing in a counterattack goal from the top of the circle.

Margaux Paolino scored the squad’s first goal of the second half on a close range finish after a shot by Marissa Balleza slipped through the Argentina keepers’ pads. Paolino scored a second goal on a penalty corner option to put the USA ahead 6-2. Argentina closed out the scoring with two late goals including a penalty stroke with no time left on the clock.

“I am pleased with tonight’s performance,” said Coach Denise Zelenak. “We could have been road weary playing a game only hours after arrival but the team came out energized and excited to compete. We showed we could play effectively versus this style but we also know we have a greater challenges ahead in the matches with the seniors squad of Argentina and Uruguay.”

The squad takes on the Argentina women at 11:30am March 23^rd.

Athletes who are on their first tour with either WNIT: Carolyn Cabrey, Erin Matson., Mallory Weisen. Juniors on their first tour with WNIT: Marissa Balleza, Maeve Doherty, Audra Hampsch, Erin Matson, Jessica McCarthy, Margaux Paolino

U.S. Women's Indoor Tour (Buenos Aires)

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