The U.S. women's field hockey team huddles during its match against Cuba at the Toronto 2015 Pan American Games on July 17, 2015 in Toronto.
TORONTO -- After solid wins against Chile and Uruguay earlier this week, the U.S. women’s field hockey team continued its winning ways and closed pool play at the 2015 Pan American Games with a 12-0 rout of Cuba in Toronto.
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With goals from nine different players, Team USA certainly made a statement.
“We produced a performance that allowed us to score some goals today," head coach Craig Parnham said. "It's good for the team, it's good for our confidence and sets us up well for the next game. We're pleased with pool play. There are some difficult teams here and there's a lot of unknowns for us.
“For the team to get through pool play scoring goals and not conceding any is obviously encouraging for us, and we need to continue that form and take that into the playoff games."
Team USA started early with a goal from Katie O’Donnell in the sixth minute, her first of the day. Goals by Paige Selenski, Melissa Gonzalez, Rachel Dawson and Jill Witmer followed.
At the half, Team USA was up by six goals.
The second half’s scoring began just five minutes into the period as Michelle Vittesse scored from the right of the circle to make it 7-0. Goals would follow from Katie Reinprecht, Katelyn Falgowski, Michelle Kasold, Gonzalez and Witmer.
"It's definitely a threat going forward because teams have to worry about everyone on the field, not just one or two athletes who repeatedly score," O’Donnell said of the number of U.S. athletes who scored goals. "We're pretty well balanced in all of our positions, and I don't ever feel we need that one player to get the job done. That's a calming effect within our team. To have that confidence in every player you pass the ball to is a dream come true for any team."
The U.S. women head to the quarterfinals Monday, when they will face Dominican Republic.
