Tamer Shines as USA Takes Silver at Olympic Qualifier, Punches Ticket for Paris Olympics
1/19/2024 3:42:00 PM | Field Hockey
RANCHI, India -- University of Michigan junior Abby Tamer provided a pair of pivotal goals to help lead the USA Field Hockey Women's National Team to a silver medal at the Olympic Qualifier, held Jan. 13-19, at the Marang Gomke Jaipal Singh Astroturf Hockey Stadium. With its top-three finish, Team USA qualified for the 2024 Olympic Games.
The Red, White and Blue posted a 4-1 record over the qualifying event, with no win more crucial than a 2-1 comeback against Japan in the semifinals to lock up their qualifying berth. Down a goal entering the fourth quarter, Team USA scored twice on the penalty corner over the final eight minutes of regulation, with Tamer netting the game-winning goal in the 55th minute. The direct shot was saved, and the rebound kicked to the right side, where Tamer wound up and hammered a hard shot between the goalkeeper and the nearside post.
It was Tamer's second game-winner of the tournament after she scored the lone goal in a 1-0 decision against host India in the first game of pool play. Pressuring the Indian circle early in the second quarter, Tamer converted off her own rebound in the 16th minute, batting in a reverse shot from in front of the cage.
Team USA also earned pool-play wins over Italy, 2-0, and New Zealand, 1-0, before eventually falling to Germany, 2-0, in the gold-medal final. Japan claimed bronze to earn the final Olympic qualifying berth.
Tamer shared USA's team lead -- with Ashley Hoffman -- with two goals.
The Paris Olympics women's field is now almost set and includes USA, Australia, Argentina, Belgium, China, France, Germany, Japan, Netherlands, South Africa and Spain. Ireland and Great Britain will play for the final spot in the Valencia Olympic Qualifier bronze-medal match on Saturday (Jan. 20).
