T
he U.S. Olympic Women’s Field
Hockey Team went 1-4 in the preliminary rounds on the blue and pink pitch at Riverbank Arena in London’s Olympic Park. Their one victory was an upset over No. 2 world ranked Argentina, the same team the U.S. defeated in October 2011 at the XVI Pan American Games to earn a spot on the U.S. Olympic roster.
Despite spoiling Argentina’s almost perfect record in the preliminary rounds, four loses for Team USA meant the U.S. would not compete for a podium finish in London. Ranked No. 10 in the world, the U.S. was the underdog, but had high hopes of returning home with their first Olympic medal since 1984. Unfortunately, the U.S. finished far off of their expectations, concluding their rocky Olympic campaign with twelfth place.
However, throughout the tournament the U.S. proved capable of contending with the very best in the world. The U.S. lost four of five matches by merely a goal, to No. 3 Germany, No. 6 New Zealand, No. 7 Australia and No. 16 Belgium. The results could have gone either way and unluckily it never fell in favor of the U.S. The Netherlands entered as reigning Olympic champions and exited with a second straight Olympic gold medal. Argentina finished off their Olympic campaign with a silver medal, adding to their collection of one silver and two bronze.
2012-13 USA FIELD HOCKEY ANNUAL REPORT
The silver lining for the U.S., which is never as good as a silver medal, is that Team USA is young. The Olympic roster featured five collegiate athletes and eleven first-timers at an Olympic Games. The future is bright for the U.S. Women’s Field Hockey Team and the goal remains to bring home an Olympic medal. Look out Rio 2016.
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