The field hockey team’s Olympic run ended on Monday in the quarterfinals as the U.S. lost, 2–1, to Germany.
Cherry Hill native Michelle Vittese poured two goals in the cage for the United States women’s field hockey team at 2016 Summer Olympics, but she and the U.S. fell short of a medal after they were eliminated in the quarterfinals on Monday. Germany defeated the United States, 2–1, to end the Americans’ Olympic run.
Vittese scored the first goals of her Olympic career during the tournament after not finding the back of the cage during her first trip to the Summer Olympics in 2012. Vittese opened up the scoring in the United States’ second game against Australia, scoring on a penalty corner to help the U.S. to a 2–1 win.
In the United States’ final game of pool play against Great Britain on Saturday, Vittese again opened up the scoring on a hard shot early in the second half. Her goal gave the U.S. a 1–0 lead, but Grant Britain would come from behind late to win the game, 2–1.
Despite falling short of a medal, the United States women’s field hockey team had its best performance in decades. Their four wins was the most for the women’s field hockey program in any single Olympic games and the team lead the entire women’s tournament in scoring during pool play with 14 goals. The team’s fifth place finish was also the highest finish for the U.S. since finishing in fifth place at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta. The United States only medal in women’s field hockey was a bronze at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.
