USWNT Finish with FIH Hockey Olympic Qualifier Silver
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RANCHI, India – In the FIH Hockey Olympic Qualifier Ranchi 2024 Final in Ranchi, India, the newly ranked No. 10 U.S. Women’s National Team met a talented No. 5 Germany. With the goal of qualifying for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games secured the previous day following four straight wins, USA were defeated by Die Danas, 2-0, to finish with the silver.
“It’s been amazing." said David Passmore, USWNT Head Coach, about the Olympic Qualifier. "I think the team have been outstanding, beyond our wildest dreams in many respects — that we made it to the final, we won our pool, we didn’t concede a goal for three and a half matches, is quite phenomenal. The character that the team showed yesterday takes so much emotional energy out of you, and I think the high that we experienced last night probably cost us a little bit today.”
USA found themselves on the backfoot to start the match as Germany threatened with a pair of circle entries. In the 3rd minute, Die Danas took the lead when Jette Fleschütz went with speed along the right baseline and send a forehand shot into the opposite top corner. Two minutes later, USA goalkeeper Jenny Rizzo (Hershey, Pa.) registered her first stop. The United Eagles used their deep press to get their first circle entry and shot in the 9th minute when Amanda Golini (Randolph, N.J.) sent a long ball in that Abigail Tamer (Dexter, Mich.) slightly touched on goal. Following, USA produced an almost similar play when Ashley Hoffman (Mohnton, Pa.) tried to feed Tamer again, but this time Germany goalkeeper Nathalie Kubalski stepped. The remaining minutes saw USA fend off three penalty corners and Rizzo tally two more saves.
Five minutes in to the second quarter, Germany doubled their lead when Sonja Zimmerman scored off a set piece to make it 2-0. USA struggled to produce any offensive momentum for majority of the frame but led by Rizzo, defended off five more penalty corners. A spark came in the final minute when Maddie Zimmer (Hershey, Pa.) weaved through Germany’s defense but couldn’t cleanly break into the circle.
To start the third quarter there was a goalkeeper substitution as Kelsey Bing (Houston, Texas) entered the match. The whole frame saw no circle entries, shots or penalty corners, and was played between the 25-yard lines.
In the final period, Germany opened with a few threats and in the 48th minute, Bing was tested with low angle clear. USA had a close chance when Zimmer set a ball through to Ashley Sessa (Schwenksville, Pa.) who pushed it ahead to Tamer with space. She was unable to turn the corner before being met by a Germany defender. Die Danas had two set pieces that Bing and the defensive unit handled, as USA fell 2-0.
Following the game, Germany’s Nike Lorenz was named Player of the Match.
During the closing ceremony, Hockey India and the FIH recognized various awards: Best Player: Nike Lorens (Germany), Best Junior Player: Deepika (India), Top Scorers: Jette Fleschütz, Charlotte Stapenhorst, Sonja Zimmermann (Germany) and Best Goalkeeper: Kelsey Bing (USA).
For more information regarding the FIH Hockey Olympic Qualifier Ranchi 2024, visit the event page.
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