Former UConn Husky Melissa Gonzalez helped bring Team USA to victory with a quick goal early in the game against Japan Wednesday.
Team USA stayed perfect in pool play with 6-1 rout of Japan and took over the top spot in the Pool B standings.
Katie Bam was a machine, collecting a hat trick off of three skillful field goals.
The U.S. had full control over the game, starting with a goal from Gonzalez less than a minute into the game.
Not long after, Bam kicked into gear by deflecting a pass high into the cage that flew over Japan goalkeeper Sakiyo Asano.
With two minutes left before halftime, the U.S ran another tricky play on a penalty corner attempt that had Katie Reinprecht taking the shot. She came through and just like that, Team USA completed its most dominant beginning of the tournament.
It didn’t take much time for Jill Witmer to score the fourth goal of the game, but the Cherry Blossoms finally scored in the fourth quarter on a penalty corner attempt when Mie Nakashima snuck one into the corner of the cage.
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Bam had an answer for that, using incredible stick skills to weave through two Japan defenders and fire one in to take a four-goal lead. She finished off the scoring with another field goal before heading to the bench.
The six-goal performance puts Team USA ahead of Great Britain thanks to the goal differential. From last in London to first currently in Rio, this team doesn’t just have a trip to the next round in its sights. They want a medal.
