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USA Field Hockey Men Fall to Japan in China Four Nation Opener
By Howard Thomas // U.S. Field Hockey Association // May 30, 2007
Colorado Springs, Colo. – Japan scored six consecutive goals to erase an early deficit and defeat the USA Field Hockey Men's National Team, 6-2, in the opening game of the China Four Nation Tournament in Lanzhou City.
The USA jumped out to an early lead when Pat Harris (Moorpark, Calif.) connected on a penalty corner in the fifth minute for a 1-0 advantage.
But Japan, the world's number 12-ranked team stormed and top seeded team at the tournament, stormed back with field goals in the 12th and 17th minute before closing the half with a field goal in the 30th minute for a 3-1 halftime lead.
Japan's scoring barrage continued in the second half with field goals in the 43rd, 57th and 65th minute, before the USA's Jarred Martin (Saratoga Springs, N.Y.) ended the match on a positive note with a penalty corner goal as time wound down in the 69th minute.
In the tournament's other game, the world's No. 15 ranked team Egypt played to a 2-2 draw with host China (No. 18). The USA is currently ranked No. 27 in the International Hockey Federation world rankings.
The tournament continues on Thursday with the USA taking on China and Egypt meeting Japan.
The tournament marks the final international competition for the U.S. men prior to the Pan American Games, July 15-29 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The winner of the Pan Am Games earns the continent's automatic berth in the 2008 Olympic Games.
Japan 6, USA 2
USA: Pat Harris (PC, 5:00)
JPN: FG, 12:00
JPN: FG, 17:00
JPN: FG, 30:00
JPN: FG, 43:00
JPN: FG, 57:00
JPN: FG, 65:00
USA: Jarred Martin (PC, 69:00)
USA Starters: Jon Ginolfi, Brian Schledorn, Jarred Martin, Rinku Bhamber, Pat Cota, Remco Couwenbergh, Shawn Nakamura, Jed Cunnngham, Arjan Reyatt, Pat Harris, Jason Wellings (GK)
USA Reserves: Bingh Hoang, Mick Harner, Ramandeep Sandhu, Danny Jordan
DNP: Jeb Saez (GK), Shawn Hindy
www.usafieldhockey.com
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