July 10, 2001

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The United States moved to 3-0 and the top of their pool yesterday at the IFLWA World Cup women's lacrosse championships in High Wycombe, England, and did so largely behind the play of several former University of Maryland players.

Eight of the 16 players on this year's US World Cup team are former Terrapins and that number is being reflected in the line scores. Of the 35 goals scored by the Americans in their three games to date, 21 (or 60 percent) have been scored by Maryland graduates. Recent grad Quinn Carney (1998-2001) has been outstanding in her first World Cup action, scoring five goals and earning Player of the Match honors for her play against Wales in the tourney opener.

In an intriguing matchup of recent NCAA Champion teammates, the U.S. beat Australia, 7-5, in the team's toughest match of the tournament. In that win, only two goals were scored by a Terp for the Americans (Kelly Amonte-Hiller had both), but all five Aussie goals were scored by former Maryland players as Sascha Newmarch scored two, while Jen Adams, Sarah Forbes and 2002 senior Courtney Hobbs each found the net once.

Below are game recaps from each of the United States' three wins through July 10:

Game 1
USA Douses Dragons, Wins World Cup Opener over Wales 17-1
Quinn Carney named Player of Match in first Elite Appearance

The USA's Sue Heether pitched a shutout in the first half of the game and notched an assist on the opening goal of the IFLWA World Cup as the United States defeated Wales 17-1 today in High Wycombe, England. After England won the opening draw, Bonnie Rosen blocked a Welsh pass and Heether scooped up the ground ball. She then threw a long clear to Randall Goldsborough who took it 35 yards for the score, putting the USA up 1-0 after just 49 seconds.

The Americans scored two more goals in the next minute as Goldsborough won the next draw and Kelly Amonte fed a pass to Cristi Samaras who quick sticked the ball into the next for a 2-0 lead. On the ensuing draw, Kristin Sommar won possession and after the US lost the ball, she intercepted the Welsh pass and brought the ball back down to the offensive end where Amonte cut across the fan for her first goal and a 3-0 lead for the Americans.

The Welsh won the next draw but Amonte intercepted the outlet pass, giving control to the Americans. The USA had a series of 11-meter shots but were unable to convert. On the clear, Goldsborough picked up the loose ball and passed the ball around with Amonte, who scored to put the Americans up 4-0, forcing the Welsh to take a timeout.

Dani Gallagher won the ensuing draw and fed a long lead pass to Amonte, who scored just 12 seconds later for a 5-0 lead and her third consecutive goal.Wales won the next draw but Carney caused a turnover and scooped up the ground ball, and the Americans tried a couple quickstick shots but were stopped. On the clear, Christie Jenkins intercepted a pass and on the offensive reset for the Americans, Samaras quicksticked a pass from Amonte in for a 6-0 lead.

Amonte won the next draw but the USA lost the ball on a called charge. The Welsh brought the ball downfield where they took their first shot of the game, which sailed wide. An American shot hit the outside of the net, and as the Welsh attempted to clear, Goldsborough picked up a loose ball and the Americans worked for a shot. Amonte fed Michele Uhlfelder who was cutting across the arc, and Uhlfelder converted for a 7-0 American lead.

Carney had a hand in the next two goals for the USA as she caused a turnover and scooped up the ground ball, and then found Erin Brown on the crease for an 8-0 American lead with 5:26 to play. After Goldsborough won the ensuing draw, she got the ball to Carney who drove the crease for a goal just 19 seconds later.

Jenkins won the draw for the USA but the Americans lost the ball on a feed into the crease. Sommar intercepted the clear and as the Stars and Stripes set the offense, Sarah Nelson was fouled in the arc, placing her on the 11-meter. Nelson scored on the free position with 46 seconds to play in the half, giving the USA a 10-0 lead going into halftime.

The Welsh won the opening draw of the second half, but a Rosen ground ball gave possession to the Americans. Samaras hit another quickstick feed from Carney 1:19 into the stanza, pushing the margin to 11-0. Sommar won the draw but the Americans turned the ball over. Wales brought the ball downfield where they shot but Jess Wilk made the save to keep the shutout alive. The Americans worked the ball downfield where they had two 11-meter shots, but they were unable to score. An American foul gave possession to the Welsh, who raced downfield and got off a shot, but it was saved by Wilk. The USA brought the ball back to their offensive end where they were awarded an 11-meter, but the shot sailed wide and the Americans kept possession. A turnover gave the ball back to the Welsh, who took off downfield and shot, but hit the pipe and the Americans picked up the ground ball.

The USA reached a dozen goals as they executed a fast break after Amonte's ground ball. Amonte fed Brown who was on the crease, and Brown danced around the goalie and deposited the ball in the net for a 12-0 lead with 19:20 to play in the half. The Welsh gained the the next draw control but Amonte stripped the ball and the Americans worked the ball downfield where Brown was awarded a free position. She did not shoot but instead passed it off, and Amonte rolled the crease for the USA's 13th goal of the match.

The Welsh won the next draw control but lost the ball on a charge. After the USA was called for an illegal pick in the arc, the Welsh overthrew the pass and Jenkins picked up the loose ball and the Americans again worked the ball aorund. Jenkins scored off a feed from Brown at 11:13, putting the USA up 14-0.

The teams worked back and forth for the next couple minutes, and the Welsh got off one shot that was saved by Wilk while the Americans had five shots in that time. On one Welsh possession, the Dragons were given an 11-meter and they converted it at 3:38 for their only goal of the game.

Wales won the ensuing draw and were able to get off a shot, but it sailed wide and Wilk was able to chase the ball down and get possession for the Americans. But the USA turned the ball over on the clear attempt before Amonte intercepted the Welsh pass and fed a streaking Uhlfelder with just over two minutes to play, giving the USA a 15-1 lead.

Samaras scored her game-high fourth goal of the game off yet another qu ickstick feed from Brown with 1:21 to play, putting the Americans up 16-1. After Greer won the draw, the Americans lost it briefly before Kara Ariza picked up the ground ball and fed Jenkins, who settled the ball for the Americans. Jenkins then fed a streaking Carney from the top of the arc, giving the USA a 17-1 lead and victory in the World Cup opener.

The Stars and Stripes will face Australia tomorrow at 2:30 GMT (9:30 EST). Australia defeated England 9-7 in the second match of the day. The USA defeated Australis 3-2 in triple overtime in the finals of the IFWLA World Cup in 1997.

Game 2
Americans Upend Aussies 7-5, Move to 2-0 in Pool Play
Amonte Named Player of the Match

July 8, 2001

High Wycombe, England--Kara Ariza's second goal 20 minutes into the second half gave the Americans a 7-2 lead and the Stars and Stripes held on to defeat the Australians 7-5 in pool play in the 2001 IFWLA World Cup today. Ariza scored the sixth and seventh goals for the Americans, who defeated the Aussies 3-2 in triple overtime to win the 1997 World Cup. Her first goal came with three seconds remaining in the first half to send the Americans into the break with a 6-2 lead. Keepers Jess Wilk and Sue Heether both notched three saves each to anchor the American defense.

The Aussies won the opening draw and took the ball straight down where they took a quick shot that was saved by Wilk. Quinn Carney scooped up the ground ball and the Americans took it downfield where Michele Uhlfelder was awarded an 11-meter for a shove in the arc.Her shot was saved and the Aussie gained possession. But the Americans regained possession in the midfield with a stick check by Jojo Connelly and a ground ball by Sarah Nelson. The USA got the ball to Cherie Greer who drove the right side of the cage and flipped the ball to Randall Flynn who was in the center of the arc. Flynn's goal 2:36 into the game was the opening marker and gave the USA the 1-0 lead for the second game in a row.

Australia won the draw again but lost the ball in the arc and Wilk scooped it out of the air. The Americans worked it down to their offensive arc but lost the ball. Carney checked the ball out of the Aussie stick and Kristin Sommar picked up the ball to reset the American offense. The Americans lost the ball again, but Dani Gallagher stripped the ball from the Green and Gold in the American offensive arc and Uhlfelder picked it up. Kelly Amonte rolled the crease from the right side and bounced her shot into the back of the net, giving the USA a 2-0 lead with 24:40 to play.

Again the Australians controlled the draw but they lost it in the midfield and Amonte scooped up the ground ball. Greer's shot on the crease was saved and the Aussies moved the ball down quickly and scored at the 22:26 mark to cut the lead to one.

Australia won the draw again, but Greer knocked the ball loose and Bonnie Rosen jumped on the ground ball. The Stars and Stripes moved downfield and Gallagher found Sarah Nelson open on the crease for a quickstick goal a minute after the Aussies scored, giving the USA a 3-1 lead.

Gallgher won the next draw, but the Americans lost possession in the offensive arc. Connelly stripped the ball as the Aussies were clearing and the USA reset the offense. Greer was awarded an 11-meter on the outside hash but the Americans pulled out. They then turned the ball over and the Aussies worked the ball downfield where a point blank shot was saved by Wilk. Again the Americans worked the ball to their offensive arc and Gallagher took a shot that was saved. Carney picked up the ground ball and the Americans reset. Sommar drove into the arc from the top of the arc on the left and found Nelson in the center. Sommar dumped the ball into Nelson who took a step and flipped the shot in at 15:09. giving the USA a 4-1 lead.

Carney won the next draw and the Americans were awarded an 11-meter shot. After electing to pull out, the Stars and Stripes lost the ball and the Aussies took it down to their offensive end. A USA crease violation turned the ball back over to the Aussies, but they lost the ball and it was picked up by Sommar. On the fast break the Uhlfelder hit the pipe but she picked up her own ground ball. A three-second violation gave the USA an 11-meter position on the center hash, and Amonte converted it for the Eagles with a low shot, giving the Yanks a 5-1 lead with 7:28 to play.

Ariza won the next draw for the US and the Americans worked for a shot. Carney's shot was saved and the Aussies won the ground ball and took it down field. A shove gave the Green and Gold an 11-meter, but Wilk made the save and the Americans brought the ball back to their end. A Christie Jenkins shot went wide and Erin Brown got the ground ball, but the Aussies stole it as the Americans were working their offense and on the fast break the Australians scored with 32 seconds left in the half.

But the Americans answered, as Ariza won the draw and took it down to the arc, where she worked free and fired a shot high to the corner, scoring with three seconds remaining and giving the Yanks a 6-2 lead going into the break.

Australia won the opening draw of the second half and again got off an early shot, but again it was saved by the Americans, this time Sue Heether who had come in to start the second half. Her long clear was knocked loose by the Aussies in their defensive third, but the Aussies turned the ball back over as Amonte intercepted a pass in the American backfield. The two teams turned the ball over twice each in the next couple of minutes before the Aussies were able to maintain possession in the arc and get off a shot. It too, was saved by Heether and the Americans took the ball downfield.

Brown's shot from a crease roll was saved and the Aussies started a clear that was broken up by Amonte. But the Americans lost it soon after before Connelly stripped the ball from the Aussies. The Americans were awarded an 11-meter but again pulled out. The Aussies got the ball back but on the clear lost the ball when they were called for creeping. On the turnover which became a fast break, Amonte's shot was saved and the Aussies brought the ball back down to their offensive end. Heether intercepted an opposite post feed and the Americans regained control.

In the offensive arc, Uhlfelder was awarded an 11-meter but her shot was saved, giving possesion to the Aussies. Their next shot was saved by Heether, but the Americans lost the ball on the clear. An Australian 11-meter was pulled out, and Greer stripped the ball to give the USA possession. Uhlfelder's shot was saved, and the Aussies worked the ball back downfield. Connelly was called for a foul in the arc, and on the 11-meter the Americans blocked the shot out front and Heether picked up the ground ball.

Heether's long clear to the other arc was picked up by the Americans, who got the ball to Ariza,who worked around in the arc and scored, giving the USA their largest lead of the game at 7-2 with 10:41 to play.

But the Aussies were not done. After Carney won the next draw, the Australians gained control when a clearing pass went astray and they scored on the fast break with 7:20 to go in the game and the USA holding a 7-3 lead.

Australia won the next draw and a foul in the arc gave the Green and Gold an 11-meter, which was converted by Sascha Newmarch, pulling the Aussies to within three at 6:15.

Amonte won the next draw and the Americans worked for a shot, which was taken by Connelly. Jenkins got the ground ball, but the Americans lost possession again and the Aussies quickly took the ball upfield where they scored with 2:52 to play and down by only two.

Connelly won the ensuing draw and the Americans held on, forcing a shooting space foul with two minutes to play. Flynn's shot was saved and the Aussies took the ball back down to their offensive end. A turnover by the crease gave the Americans possession as Heether scooped up the ground ball, and the USA held the ball to the final whistle.

Kelly Amonte was named the player of the match. The Americans will face the host English tomorrow at 6:00 GMT (1:00 EST). The English (1-1) beat the Welsh team 13-1 today.

Game 3
Americans Win War Against England 11-5, Finish Top of Pool at 3-0
US Veteran Dani Gallagher named Player of the Match

July 9, 2001

High Wycombe, England--The USA's Kelly Amonte scored a pair of goals and added an assist in the first fifteen minutes of the game to stake the USA to a 5-1 lead, and the Yanks battled hard for an 11-5 victory over the home-standing English, giving them the top seed at the end of pool play. With the win, the Stars and Stripes are now 3-0 and await the loser of the Scotland-Germany game in the crossover matches which will take place on Wednesday (July 11). The USA outdrew the Brits 13-5, with Jojo Connelly winning five to lead the USA efforts.

For the third consecutive game the USA jumped out on top early, scoring in the first minute of play. Amonte won the draw and fed a streaking Cherie Greer in the arc. Greer was fouled on her run to the cage, and then again on the 11-meter, placing her on the 11 with a center hash. She converted on a bounce shot just 55 seconds into the match, giving the Yanks a lead they would not relinquish.

Connelly won the first of her five draws on the ensuing draw, but the Americans lost the ball behind the cage while setting up the offense. As the English tried to set up their offense, they lost the ball on the crease and Sue Heether scooped up the ground ball. A long cross-field pass fell short and was picked up by the English, but on their attempt to move the ball back downfield Christie Jenkins picked up a loose ball. The Americans lost the ball again, but Cristi Samaras checked the ball loose on the edge of the field and started the offense up for the Americans. The USA got the ball to Greer on the right wing, and Greer fed Amonte in the middle of the arc. Amonte was fouled immediately and was placed on the center hash. Her conversion of the free position at 23:23 gave the USA a 2-0 lead.

England won the ensuing draw but lost the ball as Quinn Carney checked it loose. The Americans gave the ball almost right back, but Sommar stripped the ball from the English and took it down for a shot, but it was saved by the English keeper. A clearing pass went astray and it was picked up by Connelly, who got the ball to Carney. Carney raced in from midfield and bounced a shot into the back of the net, giving the USA a 3-0 lead with just over 20 minutes to play, forcing the English to take a timeout.

The English won the next draw and took it down to the American cage where a foul placed the British captain on the 11-meter.Her shot found the back of the net, cutting the deficit to two at 3-1.

Carney won the next draw but an American turnover gave the ball back to the English. But as the English were setting their offense, they were called for an illegal pick, and the ball went to Sarah Nelson. Nelson took off upfield and passed the ball to Amonte, who was in the middle of the arc. Amonte was again fouled in the arc and was given an 11-meter shot. She fed a wide-open Erin Brown on the left crease, who beat the goalie with nifty stickwork, giving the Yanks a 4-1 lead with 15:38 to play.

Connelly won another draw and the Americans got the ball to Amonte, who rolled the crease and stuffed it in high, putting another goal on the board just 20 seconds later. Connelly won the next draw as well and the Stars and Stripes worked to set the offense yet again. As Gallagher drove into the arc, she was fouled and was placed on the 11. Her shot was saved, but a double crease violation forced a throw, which was won by Sommar. The Americans lost the ball but an errant pass was picked up by Michele Uhlfelder, who found Connelly streaking to the cage. Her shot was saved, but on the clear, Brown stripped the ball from the English defender and the USA regained control. After setting the offense, Greer found Kara Ariza on the right side of the crease, and Ariza buried it on the goal line for a 6-1 lead with 11:06 to play.

Connelly won yet another draw but an errant throw into the crease resulted in a turnover for the Yanks. On the English attack, the Brits drew a shooting space foul but they elected to pull out. Another American foul gave them another 11-meter mark, but again the Brits elected to pull out. A double foul resulted in a throw won by the English, but Ariza took the ball away and started a fast break that resulted in an 11-meter shot for the Americans. Brown's shot was saved, and the English brought the ball back down for a goal on a quickstick feed, pulling the English within four at 6-2 with 4:31 to play.

Amonte won the draw but a misthrow by the Americans turned the ball over to the English. Greer checked the ball free and Gallagher pounced on it, but an illegal pick as the Americans ran the attack gave the ball back to the English. Again Greer stole the ball from the English, and Gallagher drove to the net. She was fouled with one second remaining and placed on the line. Her free position shot went into the net, but it was ruled after time had expired, so the Stars and Stripes went into the break with a 6-2 lead, just like in the game against Australia.

The English won the opening draw of the second half, and an attempted crease roll was thwarted by Jess Wilk, who had come into the cage for the second half. Bonnie Rosen caused a turnover on the crease and she picked up the loose ball, starting the American attack. Randall Flynn's shot was saved but Greer picked up the ground ball. An American turnover allowed the English to attack, but their shot was turned away by Wilk. The Yanks turned the ball over right away, but Wilk again made a save to keep the four-goal lead. That lead was increased to five as on the next offensive charge, Sommar found Cristi Samaras on the crease, and Samaras quicksticked the ball into the net for an 8-2 lead, the largest of the game for the Americans.

The English answered right back with a draw control win and a feed on the crease, 48 seconds after the American goal. Samaras won the draw and Uhfelder got off a shot that went wide, but the USA retained possession with a Brown ground ball. Amonte's shot was saved, and the English quickly got the ball upfield and Vic Cranwell scored cutting across the goal mouth and flipping it back, moving the Brits to within four at 22:06. Amonte won the draw but a turnover on the bench gave the ball back to the English, who worked the ball downfield and found another high quickstick feed for a third consecutive goal, cutting the deficit to three with 20:15 to play.

The English won the next draw but lost the ball on a drive to the cage, and Ariza scooped up the loose ball. Sommar drove to the net and Amonte was fouled, placing her on the 11. Her shot was saved but Uhlfelder got the ground ball. The Americans, however, lost the ball and the English started a clear. The clear was broken as Flynn picked up an errant pass, but the Americans turned the ball over soon after. Connelly stripped the ball in the American defensive arc, but in the course of the offense, the Yanks lost the ball again. Gallagher stripped the ball before the English were able to get it out of their arc, and Amonte got off a shot that went just wide. Gallagher picked up the loose ball and got it to Sommar on the left wing.

Sommar drove and attempted a pass to Samaras who was in the arc, but the ball missed Samaras, and missed everything else on the way to the back of the net. The goal broke the 3-0 run for the English and put the Yanks on the board in the second half with 8:52 to play.

Carney won the draw but a long pass into the arc was broken up by the English. On the clear attempt, Nelson dislodged the ball on the edge of the field and it was picked up by Gallagher. The Americans were awarded an 11-meter but elected to pull out, and later Brown found Samaras on the crease for another quickstick goal, giving the Yanks a 10-5 lead with 6:07 to play.

Connelly won her fifth draw of the game, but the Americans turned the ball over in the midfield giving the English a chance to take it down to their offensive third. Sommar stripped the ball and the Americans got the ball to Gallagher, whose shot was saved. The Americans got the ball back when the English threw it outside the playing area, but they turned it over in the offensive arc while trying to set the offense. Connelly got the ball right back for the Americans, and Carney drove the crease from the left wing to score her third goal of the game with 37 seconds remaining. Nelson won the draw and drew a shooting space foul. Her shot was saved, but the Yanks got off two more shots before the end of the match.

Gallagher was named the player of the match for the Americans, who finish pool play at 3-0. The Stars and Stripes have the day off on Tuesday and will face the loser of the Germany-Scotland match which will take place on Tuesday at 3:00.