USA earns World Cup berth with 10–8 win over Canada

USA Earns berth in FIP World Championship with 10-8 Win over Canada

By Alex Webbe

 

The picturesque Casa de Campo in the Dominican Republic was the site of the 2011 FIP Zone I competition to qualify for the fall World Championship, and three teams arrived to fight for that honor, Canada, Guatemala and the United States.

Guatemala showed up in the Dominican Republic with a 10-goal team, and were promptly discarded by the stronger 14-goal sides of Canada (14-7) and the United States (12-7) in Zone I competition to qualify to compete in the 2011 FIP World Championship slated for Argentina this fall.

Canada returned to Zone I play, in an effort to represent the zone as they did in 2008; while a group of young US players led by veteran John Gobin hoped to restore pride and tradition to the red, white and blue.

Brandon Phillips set the pace early, scoring twice on penalty shots for Canada while the United States managed but a single goal from the field from 3-goaler Mason Wroe. 

“We had trouble with our teamplay early,” said Phillips, “we couldn’t seem to get anything going as a unit.  The only opportunities we were getting were from the penalty line.”

Two more penalty goals from Phillips in the second went unanswered as the young USA team struggled to find its rhythm, and Canada took a 4-1 lead after the first fifteen minutes of play.

“Except for Gobin, this was the first shot at international competition for the team, and they were very tight in the opening chukkers,” offered USA coach Charlie Muldoon.  “We were getting into foul trouble by making foolish mistakes, not thinking,” he added, “I told them to just relax.  I told them that we were down 4-1 and the end result didn’t make any difference.  I told them to just go out and play the way they are capable of playing.”

The US team took the field in the third with renewed enthusiasm.  First Nick Snow buried a shot through the Canadian goal, followed by John Gobin’s first goal of the game.  Another goal from Snow had it all even as the US defense shut down the Canadian attack.  The first half ended in a 4-4 tie.

“Nick (Snow) had a great game,” said Gobin.  “He was solid.  And the defensive work of Mason (Wroe) was over the top,” he added.

The US defense continued to hold sway over the Canadians, and for the second consecutive chukker, they were held scoreless.  Goals from Chris Collins and Snow had the United States team ahead, 6-4 at the end of the fourth period, with the Canadians trying to find a way through the smothering American defense.

Phillips opened the fifth chukker with another penalty goal, his fifth goal of the match, but it just seemed to spur on the US team.  The United States responded with three straight goals for a 9-5 lead.  Wroe scored his team’s first goal of the fifth followed by a pair of goals from Snow.  Phillips broke through the US defenses for a goal from the field, but Wroe closed out the period with another scoring effort to put the USA on top, 10-6.

“They beat us in the first two chukkers,” said Muldoon, “but for the last two chukkers of the game, they were chasing us.  I was particularly pleased with the adjustment that Chris (Collins) made after the opening chukkers.  We got him laying his position and sitting on his man.  He did a great job.”

Phillips converted two more penalty shots in the final chukker for Canada, but that would be all of the scoring, giving the 10-8 win to great teamplay by a young USA team.

Phillips led all scoring with eight goals on the day, seven on penalty shots and one from the field.

Snow led the US attack with five goals.  Wroe added three goals and Gobin and Collins each chipped in a goal for the win.

“They (USA) played well together,” said Phillips.  “I’m sorry that we couldn’t have given them a better game.”

Gobin gave a great deal of the credit in the win to the teamwork of Wroe and Snow.

“Brandon (Phillips) had a great game against Guatemala the other day, but with Mason guarding him, he scored only one goal from the field.  That’s great defense,” he added.

“There was a welcome contingent of Americans on hand to cheer on the US team efforts as well as our three alternates (Cachi Garcia Velez, Carlitos Galindo and Steve Krueger) did everything they could do to prepare to play and to support the team on and off the field,” said Muldoon.  “Each and every one of our alternate players had a role in the win,” said Muldoon, “and there were contingency plans that would have gotten one or all of them into the lineup.  We were all very grateful for the unlimited support offered to the players and the effort by the USPA.”

Not wanting the pink cloud phase to last too long, Muldoon said that although he was elated with the teamwork of the players, there was still plenty of work to do before heading down to Argentina for the World Cup competition this fall.

“I’ve never been prouder of an American effort and the total support and commitment of the USPA for this effort,” said Muldoon.  “I’m looking forward to continue to work with the players in preparation for Argentina this fall.”