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SANTIAGO, Chile – A battle until the end, the U.S. U-22 Women’s National Team were held scoreless against Uruguay in the 2021 Junior Pan American Championship (JPAC) Semifinals. At the Prince of Wales Country Club in Santiago, Chile, USA saw many chances go unanswered as Uruguay capitalized on a penalty corner in the fourth quarter for the 1-0 win.
The USA women are not out of contention to
earn a berth to the 2021 FIH Hockey Junior World Cup as the top-three finishers in the women's division qualify.
"Winning doesn’t come easy when the stakes are high," said Tracey Paul, U-22 USWNT Head Coach. "There was plenty to learn from today and we will apply those lessons in our bronze medal game on Saturday. Our focus is to win the last game."
Uruguay held possession in their attacking end in the opening minutes, testing USA’s defense early. The red, white and blue took control halfway through the quarter but struggled to get a positive outcome. The remainder of the frame went back and forth as both sides were unable to earn a result.
To start the second quarter, USA kept up the pressure and earned the game’s first penalty corner in the 19th minute but couldn’t convert. A determined USA kept working it ahead and Maddie Zimmer (Hershey, Pa.) earned a second penalty corner in the 23rd minute. The initial attempt wasn’t executed properly but Lindsay Dickinson (Glen Mills, Pa.) got off a shot that was saved by Uruguay goalkeeper Maria Bate. Immediately following, Uruguay worked it down the other way and grabbed their first penalty corner but were unsuccessful. As both teams continued to hold defensively strong, the halftime score remained a deadlock at 0-0.
USA knew they needed to dig deep and find a way to get a result in the second half. They continued to put Uruguay’s backs under pressure earned a penalty corner in the 39th minute. Bate’s came up with the save and Uruguay’s defense cleared it wide, but USA persisted and earned another penalty corner. Unable to get a shot off, Uruguay took control down their way and produced a good look on a backhand shot that went wide. USA was unable to capitalize on an athlete advantage following a green card issued to Uruguay’s Magdalena Verga and couldn’t convert on a penalty corner with 24 seconds remaining in the quarter.
Uruguay started the fourth quarter on the front foot, earning a penalty corner in the first minute and half. They kept pressuring and six minutes later, off a penalty corner, took the lead through a drag by Maria Barreiro. With a minute to go, USA earned three penalty corners in a row, and had a goal called back, but were unable to even the score.
The USA women will play in the 3rd/4th game against Chile on Saturday, August 28 at 10:00 a.m. ET.
For more information regarding the 2021 Junior Pan American Championship, visit the event page.
#JPAC2021
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