On the USA Women's Field Hockey team's trip to Tatarstan

As promised, I take a look at the field hockey team's endeavors. Looks like Lee Bodimeade is off the hook...for now. Had we choked against Belgium, I would have called for his head. I'm glad I won't need to do that.

From the International Hockey Federation:

On the final day of the WorldHockey Olympic Qualifier in Kazan, Russia, tournament favorite USA defeated Belgium to take the second-but-last available place in the women's Olympic tournament, the Netherlands Antilles fought their way past India to claim bronze, and Russia slipped past France for fifth place.

USA 3 v Belgium 1

In a fiercely contested final here in Kazan, the USA started off tentatively, seemingly letting Belgium play the first few minutes before moving in to take charge. Increasing pressure slowly but steadily, the USA moved onto the scoreboard in the 18th minute, when Kayla Bashore deflected a Kelly Doton penalty corner hit into the net.

Belgium stepped up to the challenge, and sank a penalty corner of their own little later when Anne-Sophie van Regemortel converted the Belgians second short corner of the match with a cracking banana shot. The USA remained confident and unimpressed however, and quickly restored the lead through Tiffany Snow, who tapped a great Kate Barber pass across the face of the goal over the line for her sixth goal of the tournament, a goal that would also earn her the title as Topscorer of the Tournament.

Coming back freshly motivated after the break, the game was hotly disputed, an exciting clash between equal rivals. But as time wore on, the USA gained ground on Belgium, in part due to their superior physical fitness, and with twelve minutes to go, a great goal from the USA's captain Kate Barber settled the match. Barber made her way into the circle from the right, launching a shot from a narrow angle that beat soon-to-be Goalkeeper of the Tournament Elizabeth Achten, inexplicably passing beneath her.

The clock kept ticking down, and Belgium attacked with increasing desperation, but there was no way past the Americans today. The USA soon contented themselves with defending their lead rather than attacking, and just let time pass.

After 70 minutes, the siren sounded and the USA had pocketed their ticket to Beijing, a fair ending to this tournament, as the arguably best side in the event, who have competed consistently at the highest level here in Kazan, picked up the grand prize.

Netherlands Antilles 2 v India 1

Earlier in the day, the Netherlands Antilles had defeated India for the bronze medal in the event in a rollercoaster encounter.

India controlled the first 35 minutes of the match, confronted with a halfhearted and listless Antillean side, but had difficulty creating opportunities, and took until late in the first half to get on the scoreboard, which eventually happened thanks to Rajwinder Kaur, who converted a penalty corner.

After the break, the Netherlands Antilles awakened slowly but surely, taking over the steering wheel. After wasting a few must-score chances, it was team captain Ernestina Schreuder who scored for the Antilles, deflecting a penalty corner for her first goal of the tournament, thus forcing the match into extra time.

Extra time than lasted for all of two and a half minutes, as with what was more or less their first attack in extra time, the Netherlands Antilles won a penalty corner which Theresia Noorlander sank with a cracking hit. The golden goal assured the Antilles third place, confining India to fourth with the exact same result as in their group stage game.

Russia 2 v France 1

In the match for fifth place, the Russian hosts met France. Russia dominated play from the start, with play confined to the French half of the field for long stretches of time, and the Russian side creating scores of chances.

It took them 28 minutes however to score their first, until Svetlana Grigorieva made good use of a clever Marina Dudko pass, tapping the ball over the line from close range. France immediately replied however, their first shot on goal a winner, when Philippine Berly put a penalty corner away five minutes later.

Riding high on the boost of confidence from their goal, France looked dangerous for a while, even more so than their opponents, but execution proved to be the problem, with France's young players too anxious and too impatient to take advantage of their opportunities.

A quick break earned Russia a penalty corner midway through the second half. Olga Shentsova deflected a hit from Anna Guteneva over French goalkeeper Marion Rheby for  what was to be the winning goal, and the home team never looked back.

The match soon turned hectic, both sides losing discipline and concentration, the number of individual mistakes soaring, but Russia managed to hold on to their lead, and celebrated their eventual victory with a great measure of relief. It was an up-and-down match, with a sturm und drang period of the French around the break, but overall, Russia were the better team today, had more opportunities, and won deservedly.

Individual awards were handed to Elizabeth Achten of Belgium as Best Goalkeeper, Americans Tiffany Snow as Topscorer and Rachel Dawson as Best Player of the Tournament, and 14-year-old Rani Devi from India as Most Promising Young Player of the Tournament.

WorldHockey Olympic Qualifier, Kazan - Final Standings

1. USA

2. Belgium

3. India

4. Netherlands Antilles

5. Russia

6. France

Sunday, 27 April 2008 - Results

Russia - France 2-1 (1-1)

28. Svetlana Grigorieva (FG) 1-0

33. Philippine Berly (PC) 1-1

55. Olga Shentsova (PC) 2-1

Netherlands Antilles - India 2-1 (0-1)

28. Rajwinder Kaur (PC) 0-1

65. Ernestina Schreuder (PC) 1-1

73. Theresia Noorlander (PC) 2-1

USA - Belgium 3-1 (2-1)

17. Kayla Bashore (PC) 1-0

26. Anne-Sophie van Regemortel (PC) 1-1

33. Tiffany Snow (FG) 2-1

58. Kate Barber (FG) 3-1

On the premise of four nervous cities, a festival of hits, and other happenings

This will be a long blog entry. One which I am stunned to post. Read below for all the details.

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My ass!

Today was the day of Kaleidoscope 2008. This is a tradition at Long Beach State. The very first time I went here was over a decade ago, when I was a seventh grader at Stephens Middle School, playing with the Pandrummonium Steel Drum Band/Ensemble. I was one of the original members of that band, by the way. But everything looked the same: banners flying, bands playing, the usual suspects setting up shop (USU Program Council, SLD, Associated Students, etc.). One booth that I stopped by was this booth for CRUNK, an energy drink pioneered by Atlanta's very own Lil' Jon. His son is an avid hockey player. (I won't go into much detail on the hockey-the Habs lost-but I may delve deeper on the original version [the FIELD version] next entry). I tried the sugar-free version. It was a run-of-the-mill, ice cold medicine-type of drink. I probably wouldn't want to buy something like that, although I was glad to investigate about the brew, which featured, among ingredients in its "proprietary" formula horny goat weed (YES, it does exist). Actually, I felt sorry for those guys in the booth. I'm not too much a fan of Lil JOn, but to market a drink that literally SUCKS has to be a humbling experience.

That was before I witnessed some history in the making. Brooke Turner, the younger sister of Michelle Turner, set a new record for strikeouts in a single season, sitting down 11, and relegating Meredith Cervenka's old record to second place, in a 2-1 victory over UC Riverside, who were very feisty to begin with. We took the series after Bridgette Pagano drove in a 2-run homer over the left field wall to make it 4-3 in the second game. If these ladies don't get a regional berth, let alone bid (Mayfair Park A Go Go), the NCAA can kiss my ass. I'll even send the Eiken Club to boob-slap the selection committee into submission, fate willing.

Meanwhile, back at Blair Field, another ridiculous festival of short balls, long balls, and foul balls caught (and dropped) by salty old farts who still have it culminated in Kurt "Wide Load" Wideman dropping the ball, enabling "Sugar" Shane "The Pain" Peterson to drive in the winning run in a 14-13 victory for the Beach. Yes, football has returned to the Beach. Football scores, that is. The chicks were digging the long ball, the alums were scooping the foul balls, and I scolded a bloody idiot of a booster for failing to give a high five to me. Sit with the Tigers if you would like to be that way. I'm not obliged to even fake a smile to those cellar-dwelling punks. Actually, I thumbed my noses at a few other Tiger supporters who were clearly fairweather to the core. That's why we have seats behind home plate, so you can make up your bloody minds, you indecisive wanks.

Overall I did 1+2+3+4+5+6+7+8+9+10+11+12+13+14=107 push-ups for the men soon to be in a box. As well as the others. Well, I guess CRUNK had its benefits. Somewhat.

While most of the local teams were rolling (Beach Tennis will face of against the Zots tomorrow for the crown after taking out the Gauchos 4-0), I knew that women's water polo was going to be the goats of the day. I was surprised that I was actually RIGHT. The swiss cheese porn girls from Northridge edged us, 8-7. This year has gone to hell for Cat von Schwarz, and she knows it.

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This leads me to my premise of four nervous cities.

COLUMBUS, OH and UNIVERSITY PARK, PA should be nervous, in spite of winning their respective tournaments. Pepperdine stunned BYU in five. While both of them swept Ball State and George Mason (respectively), Shawn Patchell's men had a letdown to be damned for all time: after going up 2-0 in 30-28 wins, the Waves proceeded to win Game 3 32-30, Game 4 30-27, and complete the rally 15-8. The question for these cities is this: who gets the Waves, and who gets the at-large team? I'll give you this: the team who DOES NOT get Pepperdine should be considered lucky. Somewhat.

LONG BEACH, CA and PROVO, UT should also be nervous. Both teams shared the regular season title, yet both of them fell to Pepperdine. Uh oh. The question for these cities is this: who gets to be the at-large team, and who will they face? The Cougars have more wins, and advanced farther, but the 49ers defeated the Cougars in both meetings at Wally's House.

I would see the situation to be this:

Penn State vs. Pepperdine

Ohio State vs. Long Beach State

If even Mark Pavlik's boys can't solve the Amazing Australian Alien, a.k.a. Paul Carroll, then this tournament will turn on its head in a hurry.

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Meanwhile, down at the Home Depot Center, the Galaxy were back to their winning ways, taking down Chivas USA 5-2. A brace from Alan Gordon and a hat trick from Landon Donovan sealed the Goats' fates. Also, Toronto FC continued their climb, and Chelsea fought back to set the deciding week to be next week in the Barclays Premier League down in England. And the Lakers...well, it was just the same old stuff driven down Denver's throats.

Also, in about a few hours from now, the USA women's field hockey team faces Belgium in a game that will determine Lee Bodimeade's fate. Well, it HAS to, with a berth in Beijing on the line. More on that next entry.