USWNT Advances to 2023 Hockey5s PAC Semifinals with Win Over Jamaica

KINGSTON, Jamaica – The U.S. Women’s National Team advances to the 2023 Hockey5s Pan American Cups (PAC) Semifinals with a win over Jamaica. Holding a goal lead at the half, USA dug deep to withstand some pressure by the hosts as they went on to win 3-0.

In the opening minutes, USA started on the front foot producing several looks but couldn’t find a result. Persistence paid off and in the 3rd minute, Jans Croon (Manhattan Beach, Calif.) took a free hit quickly and found Linnea Gonzales (Bel Air, Md.) who slotted it into the far corner for the opening goal. Momentum shifted to Jamaica for a period, but USA’s defense kept them shotless. Back-to-back shots came from Carter Ayars (Wilmington, Del.) and Lora Clarke (Shaker Heights, Ohio) but they couldn’t find a way around Jamaica goalkeeper Brean Blackwood. In the 8 th minute, Jamaica won a challenge but were unable to find a result. A close chance to equalize came for the hosts in the 9th minute when USA goalkeeper Kealsie Robles (Seaford, Va.) tracked the ball along the end board and hugged it to cut down the angle. The score at the break was 1-0 in favor of USA.

To start the second half, USA made a goalkeeper substitution and put Annabel Skubisz (Houston, Texas) into the match. The first few minutes saw back-and-forth play as no real opportunity was present. In the 12th minute, USA won a challenge after Jamaica was called for deliberately stopping the opportunity to shoot. Gonzales stepped up and converted after taking Blackwood off her line and putting it between her legs. A minute later, Jamaica almost cut the margin when a deep turnover lead to Skubisz stopping a ball that was deflected off the end board to in front of the goal. In the 16th minute, USA scored again when Ayars picked up a cross ball, drove forward and sent it into the far corner. The United Eagles produced two more looks in the resuming minutes and held on for the 3-0 victory.

USA will be back on the court this evening, when they take on the winner of the second crossover, Trinidad and Tobago, at 7:30 p.m. ET.

For more information regarding the Hockey5s Pan American Cups, visit the event page.

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