After losing to Germany 2–1 on July 29, in which they played on bad and one very good half, ther U.S. women’s field hockey team was determined to play an entire game at their best.
They would need to, to defeat Argentina, the 2012 Championship Trophy winner who had just vanquished South Africa by a record-equaling score of 7–1.
The US women came out playing impeccable defense, preventing the Aregtines from reaching the scoring circle so they could not earn penalty corners, while attacking aggressively to earn their own penalty corners.
The U.S. scored with 7:20 left in the first half when midfielder Michelle Vitesse laid a cross in front of the Argentine net for forward Shannon Taylor, who tipped it home.
Luciana Aymar, considered to be the best player in the world, was handcuffed but the tight U.S. defense, but the craft midfielder created her own opportunity, driving just over the edge of the circle and batting the ball off her defender’s foot for a penalty corner.
It didn’t matter; U.S. keeper Amy Tran-Swensen batted the ball away—every time it came near. Tran-Swensen earned a clean sheet while the U.S. offense kept the pressure on Argentina until the final buzzer.
The U.S. women face Australia on Thursday.
