Kjellman Sparks U.S. to Win in Cup Opener
by Clare Lochary | Lacrosse Magazine Online Staff
Box Score: U.S. 17, England 8
|
|
Kristen Kjellman scored four second-half goals to help Team USA break open a tight game against England in its 2009 FIL World Cup opener in Prague, Czech Republic. © John Strohsacker/LaxPhotos.com |
PRAGUE, Czech Republic -- Midfielder Kristen
Kjellman scored four of her game-high five goals and dominated draw
controls in the second half, as the U.S. women's team pulled away
from England for a 17-8 victory in its 2009 Federation of
International Lacrosse (FIL) World Cup opener Thursday.
Tied 6-6 at halftime, Team USA broke the game open with a 9-0 run
-- including three straight from Kjellman -- with its defense
holding Team England scoreless until the 7:35 mark. Kjellman was
the top goal scorer with five tallies while teammate Lindsday
Munday was the points leader with three goals and three assists.
Regina Oliver (4 GB, 4 CT) and Amber Falcone (4 GB, 1 CT) anchored
the defense, which shut out the English attack for than 20 minutes
at the start of the second half. Falcone also contributed two
goals. Starting goalie Devon Wills had four saves; keeper Megan
Huether contributed one stop in the final 9:34.
Attacker Felicity Hermsen and midfielder Lucy Lynch each
contributed two goals for Team England. Starting goalie Catherine
Gaunt had 10 saves, seven of which came in the first half. Backup
keeper Anita Thorose made three saves.
After a slow start, the U.S. team rallied from an early 2-0
deficit.
“We definitely had jitters but I think that we just had to
play more together and do the little things and really chip away
and really try not to get it all done at once,” said
Kjellman, who was named Player of the Match.
Team England controlled the first two draws and scored off both, courtesy of Hermsen and Lynch. Munday got the U.S. on the board at 24:14, beating Gaunt one-on-one.
The two teams traded goals and went into the break with a 6-6
tie. It was then that American head coach Sue Heether impressed
upon players the importance of executing their game and playing
like champions.
“We can walk the walk and talk the talk, but unless we
believe in ourselves we’re going to play good, good, good
lacrosse -- but not great,” said Heether.
“At halftime they need to own their feelings, their
uniforms, their country’s colors. And they walked back out
there in the second half and it was a different field.”
England displayed incredible speed and artful passing at close
range, but got sloppy on long passes. It also encountered a
lock-down American defense, anchored by Regina Oliver and Amber
Falcone. Oliver, Falcone and goalie Devon Wills (4 saves) shut out
Team England for 22:25 in the second half.
“In the second half we really worked on playing our defense
and doing the fundamentals, all the little things that make our
defense sound,” said Falcone.
The U.S. also made some adjustments at on draws, leaning more on
Holly McGarvie (1g, 1a) who nabbed all four of her draw controls in
the second half.
“At halftime we really realized that [the draw] needed to be a real big focus of ours. We all just made a commitment to go really hard in those first five seconds after the draw,” said Kjellman.
The U.S. squad plays Canada Friday at 8:30 a.m. EST. FIL World Cup games are broadcast live at http://videosport.tn.nova.cz/lacrosse-prague-2009.
The U.S. women's national teams program is coordinated by US Lacrosse, the national governing body of the sport. deBeer Lacrosse is the official exclusive equipment and apparel supplier to the U.S. women's national teams program.
2009 FIL World Cup Scores - Thursday, June 18
Pool A
Australia 16, Canada 11
United States 17, England 8
Pool B
Scotland 8, Czech Republic 6
Wales 18, Germany 3
Pool C
Austria 14, Denmark 7
Ireland 22, South Korea 0
