Early in the fourth quarter, Fee preserved a 4-1 US advantage by stepping up to make a strong block tackle to thwart a second Japanese score.
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Still seeking their first win after returning to women’s Olympic hockey since their 1980 appearance, the Indians were once again left to defend their citadel for most part of the match as the Americans dictated the pace of the Pool B fixture. Briggs was credited with a dozen saves in the opening match for the U.S.
The Indian women’s hockey team were outclassed 3-0 by group leaders U.S. in their clash on Friday. The former Penn Manor standout’s shot, however, was smothered by the pads of Indian goalie Savita Punia and cleared by the defense.
The momentum appeared to turn in India’s favor two minutes later, but as soon as the International Hockey Federation’s 13th-ranked squad got on the board, the goal was erased as the shot hit India’s Preeti Dubey in the shoulder before crossing the goal line.
From there it was all Team USA.
USA goalkeeper Jackie Briggs has made a huge impact by staying active and aggressive in the cage all tournament long, and she did the same tonight to earn the shutout win.
With the sides held scoreless in the first period, the US tallied first on a direct shot by forward Michelle Vittese (Cherry Hill) on a penalty corner with five minutes to go in the first half.
“I think the difference was our group came together the second quarter and as the game went on”, said USWNT Head Coach Craig Parnham.
The fourth quarter opened with India’s Poonam Rani receiving a green card, and Gonzalez and the Americans made the most of their one-player advantage. Bam, who led Team USA in scoring a day earlier against Japan, received a reverse-stick pass from teammate Katelyn Falgowski to chip the ball into the goal. The midfielder blasted the ball past Punia to seal the 3-0 victory.
Through four games in Rio, the USA has now outscored its opponents 13-3. Team USA won the first game 3-2, while India took the finale 2-1.
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.
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Both teams got out to a sluggish start. That’s something I noticed and it kept me on the edge of my seat wanting to give that energy to the game.
