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USA Field Hockey Women, England Play to 2-2 Draw at Champions Challenge
By Howard Thomas // U.S. Field Hockey Association // June 12, 2007
BAKU, Azerbaijan – April Fronzoni scored the game-tying goal with three minutes remaining in the match to give the USA a 2-2 draw with England in the third day of play at the Champions Challenge.
In a crucial game for both teams, the USA got on the scoreboard first when Dana Sensenig (Denver, Pa.) spun into the circle and fired a shot off the baseline to give the USA a 1-0 lead.
The teams played even throughout the remainder of the half as the USA defense and goalkeeper Amy Tran (Grantville, Pa.) squelched England penalty corner attempts late in the half to preserve a 1-0 halftime lead. England controlled possesion to open the second half and was finally rewarded with a pair of penalty corner goals in a three-minute span. Following a U.S. turnover, Mel Clewlow blasted a shot to tie the game at 1-1 in the 45th minute. Minutes later, Alex Dansen deflected in a second penalty corner to give England a 2-1 lead in the 48th minute. With time running down, the USA's Melissa Leonetti (Erdenheim, Pa.) sent a hard pass into the circle where Fronzoni directed the deflection past England keeper Becky Duggan to knot the game at 2-2.
The USA withstood a final penalty corner attempt by England to secure the draw and move to 1-1-1 (4 points) at the tournament.
In other games on the second day of play, China crushed New Zealand 8-1 while Korea downed host Azerbaijan 4-3.
With the draw, the USA stands tied with England (1-1-1) in third place at the tournament behind tourney leader Korea (3-0-0) and China (2-1-0). New Zealand is in fifth at 1-2-0 while Azerbaijan dropped to 0-3. Following a day off on Wednesday, the USA resumes play Thursday against New Zealand.
The tournament marks the USA's final international competition 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.
USA 2, England 2
USA: Dana Sensenig (FG, 17:00)
ENG: Mel Clewlow (PC, 45:00)
ENG: Alex Danson (PC, 48:00)
USA: April Fronzoni (FG, 67:00)
USA Starters: Melissa Leonetti, Rachel Dawson, Sarah Dawson, Tiffany Snow, Sara Silvetti, April Fronzoni, Dana Sensenig, Katelyn Falgowski, Amy Tran (GK), Lauren Crandall, Lauren Powley.
Reserves: Laura Suchoski, Caroline Nichols, Michelle Kasold, Claire Laubach.
DNP: Jill Dedman (GK), Dina Rizzo, Vianney Campos
www.usfieldhockey.com
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