The USA and Japan continued their international tradition of tight games as the two teams played to a 1-1 draw in Game 2 of their five-game series at the Univ. of Maryland.

“I’m really pleased with the way we played,” said U.S. coach Lee Bodimeade. “I thought we played better tonight then last night (a 2-1 USA win) and I thought Japan played better as well. It is always a close competition between these teams and I don’t expect it will be any different for the remainder of the series.”

As in the previous night’s game, the USA again fell behind early when Japan’s Tomomi Komori skillfully tipped a hard pass off a free hit up and over U.S. goalkeeper Amy Tran for a 1-0 Japan lead five minutes into the game.

The USA battled back minutes later when Kelly Doton drilled a penalty corner shot past Japan keeper Ikuko Okamura to tie the game at 1-1 in the 22nd minute.

Both teams picked up the tempo in the second half, but Japan denied U.S. attacks inside the circle early in the half and the USA survived three consecutive Japan penalty corners in the 62nd minute as the teams settled for the 1-1 draw.

The game showcased some of the nation’s top collegiate stars as Bodimeade made free use of his extended roster for the series. Rachel Dawson (Univ. of North Carolina), Katelyn Falgowski (Univ. of North Carolina), Michelle Kasold (Wake Forest Univ.) and Katie O’Donnell (Univ. of Maryland) all saw time for the USA during the match.

Following a rest day on Wednesday, the teams resume their series with Game 3 on Thursday.

“Japan’s a top six team in the world right now, and we want to be one of the top four teams in the world,” said Bodemeade. “Japan’s one of the teams we have to play and we have to beat to reach that goal.”

USA 1, Japan 1
JPN: Tomomi Komori (FG, 5:00)
USA: Kelly Doton (FG, 22:00)

USA Starters:  Kelly Doton (Greenfield, Mass.), Rachel Dawson (New Berlin, N.J.), Tiffany Snow (Escondido, Calif.), Dana Sensenig (Denver, Pa.), Carrie Lingo (Rehoboth Beach, Del.), Michelle Kasold (Chapel Hill, N.C.), Katie O’Donnell (Blue Bell, Pa.), Katelyn Falgowski (Landenberg, Pa.), Amy Tran (GK) (Grantville, Pa), Kayla Bashore (Shoemakersville, Pa.), Lauren Crandall (Doyelstown, Pa.)

Reserves: Melissa Leonetti (Erdenheim, Pa.), Lauren Powley (Mountaintop, Pa.),  Dina Rizzo (Walpole, Mass.), April Fronzoni (Larksville, Pa.), Natalie Martirosian (Richmond, Va.)

Head Coach: Lee Bodimeade
Asst. Coach: Steve Jennings

Japan Starters: Ikuko Okamura, Mayumi Ono, Chie Kimura, Yukari Yamamoto Misaki Ozawa, Mika IIMura, Chinami Kozakura, Chie Akutsu,

Reserves: Hikari Suwa, Rika Komazawa, Miyuki Nakagawa, Akiko Ota, Yuka Yoshikawa, Ayumi Ueno, Ai Murakami, Hazuki Yuda, Kana Nomura

Head Coach: Seung Jin Yoo

Source: USA Field Hockey