COLORADO SPRINGS, C.O. - Japan walked away with a shut out over the USA Women's National Team in the fourth match of a five game series in Chula Vista, CA. It was Japan's first win in the series.
ÔÇ£What is comes down to is Japan outplayed us,ÔÇØ said Lee Bodimeade, Head Coach. ÔÇ£We had some different personnel in there and the good thing about a game like this is that nothing is hidden. Everything gets exposed and we get to see what we need to work on. Japan played very strong today and how we learn from this type of loss will be important as we move forward. We're continuing to learn about our team and what is going to make us stronger and better as we go from here.ÔÇØ
The first half remained scoreless until the final four minutes. Japan's two field goals came within one minute of each other. An aggressive Japan took advantage of miscues by the USA backs. Turnovers turned into quick attacks with crisp passing and Japan converted to back to back goals to take the lead 2-0 going into the second half.
USA and Japan battled in the second half with both teams unable to find the net until late in the fifty-third minute when a penalty corner was awarded to Japan. Hayashi Nagisa converted the penalty corner into Japan's third goal. In the sixtieth minute, Japan would seal the game and their first win with another field goal by Komazawa Rika.
ÔÇ£Obviously we had a tough time jelling as a team today and Japan was able to capitalize on our mistakes,ÔÇØ said Katie O'Donnell (Blue Bell, Pa), National Team member. ÔÇ£It wasn't our best performance, but for us, after a game like this, one of the most important things is how we're going to learn from this and how we respond to adversity. I know the team is looking forward to game five on Friday, to show that we can come back stronger and learn from our losses.ÔÇØ
O'Donnell held the intensity for team USA when moral was down from a 2-0 deficit at the half. Although unable to get on the boards today, USA is looking ahead to Friday for the chance to comeback in the final match of series. The match will be played at 2:00pm PDT.
USA Roster: Caroline Nichols (Virginia Beach, VA), Carrie Lingo (Rehoboth Beach, DE), Claire Laubach (Centreville, VA), Jackie Kintzer (Robesonia, PA), Katelyn Smither (Suffolk, VA), Katie O'Donnell (Blue Bell, PA), Kayla Bashore-Smedley (Shoemakersville, PA), Kelly Driscoll (West Chester, PA), Katie Evans (Newtown Square, PA) Lauren Crandall (Doylestown, Pa), Lauren Pfeiffer (Mt. Laurel, NJ), Maren Ford (Lewes, DE), Melanie Brill (Oley, PA), Michelle Kasold (Chapel Hill, NC), Pam Spuehler (Sudbury, MA), Rachel Dawson (Berlin, NJ), Shannon Taylor (Midlothian, VA), Torrie Albini (Escondido, CA), Melissa Gonzalez (Mohegan Lake, NY), Michelle Vittese (Woodbury, NJ), Brianna Davies (Annville, PA), Paige Selenski (Shavertown, PA)
Japan Roster: Rika Komazawa, Miyuki Nakagawa, Ai Murakami, Keiko Manabe, Chie Akutsu, Sakiyo Asano, Shiho Sakai, Yukari Yamamoto, Izuki Tanaka, Nagisa Hayashi, Sachimi Iwoa, Akiko Ota, Misato Katamine, Kana Nomura, Masako Sato, Aki Mitsuhasi, Shiho Otsuka, Nane Ozawa, Akane Shibata
Source: USFHA media release
