The Netherlands remain at the top of the standings thanks to a third successive victory in the competition, overpowering USA 4-1.
The Netherlands made it three wins from three matches at the Women’s Hockey Champions Trophy in London, with 2015 FIH Player of the Year Lidewij Welten scoring twice in a 4-1 victory over USA. The triumph ensured that it was a day of double celebration for Oranje Head Coach Alyson Annan, the legendary Australian international who was also celebrating her 43rd birthday.
The reigning World and Olympic champions continued their excellent form at the Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre with a dominant performance against the Pan American champions, who were missing team captain Lauren Crandall through injury. The Dutch needed just four minutes to open the scoring, with Kitty van Male getting a crucial touch in the circle to guide a cross into the net before Carlien Dirkse van den Heuvel made the score 2-0 before the end of the first quarter. Although Kelsey Kolojejchick pulled a goal back for USA with a 24th minute penalty corner, a double strike from Welten put the result beyond all doubt to move the Dutch onto nine points and remain top of the standings.
“There is still a lot to improve”, said Welten after the match. “It’s not about being there already but getting there and making every game much better. In the first game we got a lot of corners and made them but now you see that we are making our field chances as well.”