Australia Beats U.S. Women’s Field Hockey Team 1–0

Toni Cronk of Australia saves the penalty shot of Lauren Crandall of the United States during the Women's Hockey preliminary match between Australia and United States on Day 6 of the London 2012 Olympic Games. Daniel Berehulak/Getty Images

The U.S. women’s field hockey team racked up its second loss in group play Thursday, falling 1–0 to Australia.

The U.S. women played good defense, keeping the Aussies out of the scoring circle and allowing only three penalty corners. Unfortunately Australia’s Anna Flanagan, who missed high left and high right on the first two, found the mark on the third, whipping it into the top left corner.

After that the U.S. defense didn’t allow another penalty corner, though the Aussie ladies did get a few good shots on net.

The U.S. team had two good scoring chances in the first half, on a penalty corner followed immediately by a penalty shot. Rachel Dawson’s shot off the penalty corner blocked by Australia’s Jodie Schultz. Lauren Crandall took the subsequent penalty shot but diving netminder Toni Cronk just got her right glove on it.

USA earned one more penalty corner but again Cronk made the save.

The win moved Australia three points ahead of the U.S. in Group B, and into medal contention.