Women’s Field Hockey’s Medal Dreams End in Quarterfinals

After a dominating performance in pool play, the United States women’s field hockey couldn’t rally against Germany late, losing their quarterfinal match, 2-1.

The women dug themselves an early hole that they just couldn’t overcome, despite a flurry of late chances in the closing minutes. Germany scored their two goals in the first quarter, the first by Marie Mavers and the second by Lisa Altenburg. After that, goalie Jackie Briggs (Robesonia, PA) clamped down along with the American defense, but they just couldn’t get on the board.

In the second quarter, the United States continued to dominate possession, with several close attempts, but the German defense only allowed seven shots to go through throughout the entire match. One opportunity went in for the Americans by Kelsey Kolojejchick (Larksville, PA), but after a German referral, it was found that the shot went off of her body first, so they goal did not count.

Katelyn Falgowski (Lancaster, PA) was able to penetrate and take a pass in from Katie Reinprecht (Perkasie, PA), from the right baseline to score the American goal late in the fourth quarter, with about ten minutes to go. After a late foul on Katie Bam, the Americans had a one woman advantage, but they couldn’t capitalize on their late chances, dropping their last chance at a medal.

The women finished last overall in the London games, but came out swinging, beating number three Australia and number two Argentina in their opening matches, two of the top-ranked teams in the world, and both medal contenders. Their overall 4-2 record is impressive, but still leaves a sour taste, as the women really believed that they could win a medal after their earlier upsets. The team was headlined by Bam (Blue Bell, PA), who came into the game leading the entire tournament in scoring, with five goals.

With their headquarters being in Lancaster, PA, the team was stocked with many local women. Briggs, Mavers, Falgowski, Bam, Kolojejchick, Reinprecht and her sister Julie, Rachel Dawson (Berlin, NJ) Alyssa Manley (Lititz, PA), Kat Sharkey (Moosic, PA), Jill Witmer of (Lancaster, PA) Michelle Vittese (Cherry Hill, NJ), Melissa Gonzalez (Mohegan Lake, NY) and captain Lauren Crandall (Doylestown, PA).

The team is hoping to inspire more women to take up the sport after seeing the Americans find some moderate success. They went through an overall after London, and the program is obviously heading in the right direction, with their Rio finish indicative of that.