Mayumi Ono scored two goals to lead Japan to a 2-0 victory over the USA Women’s National Team in Game 2 of the five game series at the Univ. of Maryland.

The Japan win evened the series at 1-1-1 after a USA victory in Game 1 and a 1-1 draw in Game 2.

“We were able to work on some things and execute some things that we were happy with,” said U.S. coach Lee Bodimeade following the team’s first loss of the series. “But we had some things that didn’t go our way and that seemed to agitate us a bit. But that’s a lesson we have to learn. We have to stay in the game.”

After a scoreless first half, Japan finally got on the scoreboard in the first two minutes of the second half when Ono fired a penalty corner shot into the pads of U.S. goalkeeper Barb Weinberg, then collected her own rebound and launched a second shot into the right corner of the goal for a 1-0 Japan lead.

Ono added her second goal of the game 14 minutes later when she connected on another penalty corner. Her second goal again hit the pads of Weinberg but bounced off and into the goal to give Japan the 2-0 victory.

As in the previous matches in the series, the USA held an advantage in possession, but for the first time was unable to score against a tight Japan defence.

“I thought we had enough chances, but we came up empty,” said Bodimeade. “That’s the difference in the game. Japan was able to come down and get two penalty corners and all of the sudden it’s 2-nil. Japan is a top-six team and in a five game series, we need to learn that we have to be on top of our game every night if we are going to win.”

Japan had its best chance late in the first half when Ono and Misaki Ozawa raced down the field on a counter attack for a 2-on-1 against U.S. keeper Weinberg.  After Ono drew out Weinberg, she slipped a pass to Ozawa who had a free shot at the open USA cage. But U.S. defender Kelly Doton raced into the circle to block Ozawa’s shot at the stick to rob Japan of the sure goal and keep the game scoreless at halftime.

“I just looked up and saw their two players running down the field and took off,” said Doton on the defensive play of the game. “I thought if Barb is going to take the one with the ball then I’ll take the other one. I don’t know how I got there on time. There is not exactly a whole lot of speed in my family.”

The series continues on Friday with Game 4.

“We pride ourselves on our defence,” said Doton. “We made some mistakes tonight and it cost us. But we’re going to rally and we’re going to come out much harder in Game 4.”

The game marked the international debut of the USA’s Jesse Gey (Green Lane, Pa.). Gey is currently a senior at the Univ. of North Carolina.

Japan 2, USA 0
JPN: Mayumi Ono (PC, 37:00)
JPN: Mayumi Ono (PC, 51:00)

USA Starters:  Angie Loy (Loysville, Pa.), Kelly Doton (Greenfield, Mass.), Rachel Dawson (Berlin, N.J.), Dana Sensenig (Denver, Pa.),  Barb Weinberg (GK) (Louisville, Ky.), Carrie Lingo (Rehoboth Beach, Del.), Michelle Kasold (Chapel Hill, N.C.), Katie O’Donnell (Blue Bell, Pa),  Katelyn Falgowski (Landenberg, Pa.), Kayla Bashore (Shoemakersville, Pa.), Lauren Powley (Mountaintop, Pa.)      

Reserves: Jesse Gey (Green Lane, Pa.), Sarah Dawson (New Berlin, N.J.), Tiffany Snow (Escondido, Calif.), Claire Laubach (Centerville, Va.), Dina Rizzo (Walpole, Mass.)

Head Coach: Lee Bodimeade

Japan Starters: Ikuko Okamura (GK), Mayumi Ono, Chie Kimura, Rika Komazawa, Miyuki Nakagawa, Yukari Yamamoto, Tomomi Komori, Misaki Ozawa, Mika IIMura, Chinami Kozakura, Chie Akutsu

Reserves: Akiko Ota, Hazuki Yuda, Kana Nomura, Ayumi Ueno, Ai Murakami

DNP: Hikari Suwa, Yuka Yoshikawa

Head Coach: Seung Jin Yoo

Source: USA Field Hockey