The game of field hockey can be one of fine margins, whether it is the size of the stick or the ball that needs to go into the goal, or the margins of elapsed time.
What tripped the U.S. women’s junior national team in the quarterfinal round of the FIH Women’s Junior World Cup in Chile were two very short time periods.
The first measured a minute and 35 seconds. That was how long it took for the Red Panthers to open scoring off the stick of Alexi Van Remortel.
Belgium held that lead through intermission, then scored three consecutive goals in three minutes and 20 seconds to end any aspirations of the medal stand for the Americans.
Yep, as good as the States have been on defense this tournament, it all went awry in a microburst of Belgium scoring chances that found their way into the goal cage.
The United States, with the loss, will play England (an 8-2 loser to The Netherlands) in the 5th-8th bracket. A win in the game on Thursday will guarantee the United States its best-ever finish at a Junior World Cup.