Melanie Brill (center) picked up her first international cap yesterday in the second game of the USA / Canda field hockey series – using the Harrow Titan and glove!!

From USA Field Hockey –

CHULA VISTA, CA – The USA Women’s National Field Hockey Team pulled away with another win over Canada this afternoon in the second of a four game test series held in Chula Vista, California. Torrie Albini (Escondido, CA) scored the game winning goal with two minutes remaining, lifting USA to 3-2 victory.

“Canada brought the intensity far more than we did. We learned more today than in the first test match and that is what this series is about. Ultimately, we came out on top and that’s what counts for us in international competitions,” said Head Coach Lee Bodimeade.

Canada took an early lead when Diana Roemer fired a shot into the back of the net off of a penalty corner in the first four minutes.

USA evened the match 1-1, with a goal scored by Albini, her first career goal in an international competition. Shortly before the end of the first half, Canada was able to capitalize on another penalty corner with a direct hit by Katie Baker from the top of the circle.

Canada held the lead 2-1 going into halftime and for the majority of the second half. USA dominated play in Canada’s defensive twenty-five, with five corners and several scoring opportunities. Twenty-seven minutes in, Michelle Kasold (Chapel Hill, NC) scored her third goal of the series when she deflected a pass from Albini into the net. The score remained tied 2-2 until the final two minutes when Albini collected a pass from Katie O’Donnell (Blue Bell, Pa) and drove a hard shot past Canada’s goalkeeper.

“Lee gave us a game plan to execute and it took us some time to get our bearings straight. It wasn’t the prettiest game, but we found a way to finish and took a step in the right direction towards our bigger goals down the road,” said Albini.

Pam Spuehler (Sudbury, MA) and Melanie Brill (San Diego, CA) both played in their first international match and received their first career cap.