Tired of ads? Subscribers enjoy a distraction-free reading experience.
Click here to subscribe today or Login.

VALENCIA, Spain — The United States women’s field hockey team snapped out of its offensive struggles Saturday and will now finish either fifth or sixth at the FIH Women’s Hockey World League Semifinals.

Dallas graduate Paige Selenski scored one of the goals and was part of the constant pressure on Ireland in a 6-1 victory in the consolation bracket.

After missing out on one of the three 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games berths available in the 10-team field, the United States will close out the tournament Sunday morning at 8 against Spain.

With her back to the goal, Selenski scored on a reverse chip shot from a tough angle near the left baseline for a 5-1 lead in the fourth quarter.

The win helped avenge a loss for the United States, which stumbled when it suddenly struggled to score goals despite frequent opportunities after going unbeaten in the first three games. The first loss had come Tuesday, 2-0, to Ireland.

“There’s no real difference from one game to the next here,” U.S. coach Craig Parnham said, according to a story on usafieldhockey.com. “I’m very pleased with the number of chances we created, as I was the last time we played Ireland.

“All it was for this match was that a couple of them went in and it gives you a bit of momentum.”

Lauren Crandall and Katie O’Donnell, two of the 11 Pennsylvania players on the 18-player roster, scored two goals each.

Wyoming Seminary graduates Kat Sharkey, at forward, and Kelsey Kolojejchick, at midfield, started for the United States.

The next chance to qualify for the 2016 Olympic Games is July at the Pan American Games.