From there it was all Team USA.
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United States’ Katie Bam, right, fights for the ball with Japan’s Ayaka Nishimura during a women’s field hockey match at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2016.
The Indian women’s hockey team slumped to their third successive loss at the Rio Olympics, going down 3-0 to USA. The Americans went on to rout Japan 6-1 in the Pool B contest Wednesday to earn a slot in the quarterfinals.
Two minutes later with two players in the penalty box, the Australians cut the Americans’ lead in half on a goal by Kathryn Slattery but could not get the equalizer by the end of the third quarter and were held scoreless in the fourth.
Thanks to two more goals from Katie Bam – who had a hat trick in Wednesday’s win over Japan – and a full-team effort on defense, the US willed its way to a 3-0 win over India at the Olympic Hockey Centre in Rio in what’s fast becoming a historic 2016 Olympics for a USA seeking its first medal in 32 years. Goalie Jackie Briggs notched her first shoutout of the games against India after allowing a single goal in each of the team’s first three matches.
“Games like this are statement games for us”, Bam said. India are yet to register a win at Rio and face Argentina next on Saturday.
Kathleen put the Americans in the lead with a spectacular solo goal, dribbling her way to the backline inside the Indian penalty area before cutting back to place a powerful shot past Indian goalkeeper Savita.
But USA made it 2-0 in the third quarter with Kathleen scoring her second goal of the match in the 42nd minute as she rounded off a defender with a reverse flick before sending the ball through the legs of Indian goalkeeper Savita Punia into the goal.
“Katie’s a prolific goal scorer and has been for many years”, USA coach Craig Parnham said.
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Ranked fifth in the world by the International Hockey Federation (FIH) and captained by Doylestown’s own Lauren Crandall, Team USA has now defeated two of the top-five teams on the planet. Team USA took control of the Group B standings heading into a Thursday matchup with India. I thought we did a really good job and a professional job, of picking up another three points. They have to beat Argentina next and hope that Australia beat or draw with Japan. The victory advanced the team to the quarterfinal round.
