Hockey: Smith in great touch
United States 0 England 1
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Jane Smith, a 48th-minute substitute, dived full length with splendid anticipation to score the goal in the 63rd minute which gave the young England side a hard-fought victory against the Americans. It reversed the score when the teams last met in the 1994 World Cup.
England exploited their youth policy in this opening game in the Five Nations tournament in Vancouver with all six uncapped players starting with the previously uncapped Lisa Copeland giving a tenacious performance.
Opening their tough programme of four matches in four days under an overcast evening sky and floodlights, England took time to settle and might have conceded an early goal. But, with goalkeeper Hilary Rose in form, they held the Americans at bay.
While England's counter- attacks came mainly down the right, the Americans held out until seven minutes from the end when Smith struck for the winner.
Earlier Canada, with a goal from Aoibhinn Grimes two minutes after the interval, beat Ireland 1-0.
UNITED STATES: A Wieland; J Reeve (capt); T Burdt, E Tchou, C DeBow; K Holmes, K James, T Fuchs; K Kauffman, R Aspelin, T Maguire. Substitutes used: P Storrar; J Reeve, J Salisbury, C Tagliente.
ENGLAND: H Rose (Sutton Coldfield); K Brown (Slough); M Davies (Sutton Coldfield), J Mould (Balsam Leicester), L Copeland (Slough, capt); D Marston- Smith (Clifton), L Newcombe (Hightown), P Miller (Balsam Leicester); S Blanks (Balsam Leicester), L Wright (Plton), C Voss (Balsam Leicester). Substitutes used: C Reid (Hightown), K Bowden (Balsam Leicester), T Cullen (Hightown), J Smith (Slough), J Empson (Canterbury).
Umpires: J McClintock (Can) & A McCloskey (Irl).
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments