USWNT Come Up Short Against Great Britain in FIH Hockey Pro League

LONDON, England – In their first match of the 2023-24 FIH Hockey Pro League mini-tournament in London, England, it was the No. 14 U.S. Women’s National Team against hosts, No. 6 Great Britain. After USA took the lead in the opening quarter, it was Great Britain who used momentum to tally three goals. The United Eagles pushed late in the fourth but ran out of time and came up short as they fell 2-3.

Although it was Great Britain who held much of the control in the first quarter, it was the USA who got on the board first. The first shot of the game was registered in the 5th minute when Sophie Hamilton drove into the circle and ripped a hip height shot that Kelsey Bing (Houston, Texas) saved with her glove. In the 10th minute, a long ball got through to Sanne Caarls (Nieuw-Vennep, Netherlands) in the circle who won USA a penalty corner. The drag attempt by Beth Yeager (Greenwich, Conn.) went off the first runner, and after a video review it gave USA a second set piece. This time, Yeager was successful to put USA ahead 1-0.

One minute into the second frame, Great Britain earned a penalty corner but fearless running by Amanda Golini (Randolph, N.J.) blocked the attempt. On the resuming play, great individual skill by Lily Owsley led to her weaving into the circle and sending it into the net to even the score, 1-1. A close chance came for the United Eagles in the 19th minute when Abby Tamer (Dexter, Mich.) got a slight turning touch toward goal, but she took too much off it as goalkeeper Miriam Pritchard made the clear. The hosts finished the frame with a penalty corner but couldn’t convert as the half ended.

After a static start to the third, Great Britain took the lead in the 37th minute off a penalty corner. Hannah French deflected in the low pass to make it 1-2. Continuing to be tested, Bing came up with two big saves but not before the hosts earned back-to-back set pieces. Just before the quarter horn, Great Britain added to their lead after a right baseline entry led to Fiona Crackles tucking it in.

Trailing, USA found themselves with an opportunity in the 47th minute when Great Britain was issued a green card. Unable to generate any attack with the possession, momentum shifted back to Great Britain. Moments later, a Great Britain showed deception on a set piece, but Bing make the stop and then batted it down into the turf. This led to a USA counterattack, but they couldn’t successfully turn the corner. In the 54th minute, Great Britain’s Grace Balsdon was issued a 5-minute yellow card and immediately USA added one back. Quick passing got to Danielle Grega (Kingston, Pa.) who crossed it to Phia Gladieux (Oley, Pa.) who finished. With 4 minutes to go, the United Eagles pulled Bing and a minute later earned back-to-back penalty corners. On the first chance, Hoffman’s drag was saved but Grega was on the rebound and one time swept it toward Pritchard. She made the stop, but a Tamer pushed it back to Grega whose lift was deflected away by Pritchard. Next, Hoffman’s drag was again stopped, and Tamer sent a backhand over the crossbar. Continuing to push, USA ran out of time as they fell 2-3.

Following the game, Great Britain’s Lily Owsley was named Player of the Match.

The United Eagles are back in action tomorrow, June 2 at 12:15 p.m. ET when they take on No. 3 Germany. This match and the one on June 6 will be aired on the CBS Sports Network, while all games of the FIH Hockey Pro League can be streamed pay-per-view on Watch.Hockey for $4.99 for the whole league.

For more information regarding the 2023-24 FIH Hockey Pro League, visit the event page.

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