June 10, 2007

BAKU, Azerbaijan - The USA Field Hockey Women's National Team earned its first victory at the AtaHoldings Champions Challenge with a 2-1 win over China. Wake Forest's Michelle Kasold scored her first career international goal to give the USA a 2-0 lead in the second half.

Rachel Dawson of North Carolina put the team on the board after connecting on a penalty corner shot. Kasold took advantage of a loose ball in the circle midway through the second half and launched it past Chinese goalkeeper Zhang Yi Meng.

China's Song Quing Ling put her team on the board with four minutes remaining in the game. The defense held the one-goal lead for the remaining minutes to give the USA the victory.

The US team fell to Korea, 2-0, in the opening game of the Challenge and face England on June 12, New Zealand on June 14 and host Azerbaijan on June 16.