Women's soccer tramples Germany en route to goldby Martin Dale-Hench on September 15, 2009 On the first day, Taipei Stadium’s torch gave light to the Deaflympics. On the tenth day, it watched the U.S. Women’s Soccer Team earn gold. Playing against their first opponent, the U.S. duplicated its score against Germany, dispatching the Germans, 4-0. However, the Americans did not show up until the second half. The game was scoreless until the 63rd minute, when midfielder Liza Offreda tracked down a loose ball in the right wing and punted the bouncing ball over the oncoming goalkeeper for the game’s first goal. “The first half, we were nervous and kicked the ball all over the place,” said Katie Romano, who switched from defense to forward after the half. Head coach Ken McDonald made a change during the halftime, shifting the formation from 4-5-1 to 3-5-2, with Romano moving to the frontline. The decision paid off, with the U.S. offense passing more efficiently, and the Americans were able to pressure the Germans into miscues, which converted into goals. The formation change “seemed to puzzle our opponents because of the extra pressure up the field on their defense,” McDonald said. The first half, the Germans and Americans seemed to be evenly matched, the ball possession seesawing between the teams midfield. There were no dynamic or close shaves on the goal. The second half, it was all United States, as if the ball was on an incline going down Germany’s side of the field. The U.S. offensive squad attacked the Germans relentlessly, pursuing the ball every second and fighting for every open space. “We just ran more,” said striker Felicia Schroeder, who had two goals, “and had more heart in the second half.” Schroeder scored the second goal in the 76th minute, when a scuffle for the ball in front of the German goalkeeper bobbled the ball up to the waiting Schroeder. She gave it two whacks before the ball went through traffic and into the goal. After that goal, the U.S. still played like it was 0-0. The Germans appeared languid, constantly on their heels. Their counterattacks were dispelled quickly and harmlessly by the U.S. defense, led by Megan Johnston. Goalkeeper Jessie Zamichow did not have a busy night, but she handled the centering kicks well, catching the ball before another German could put her foot on it. In the 82nd, Katie Ward, the youngest player on the field at 15 years old, made it 3-0. She booted a long kick from 35 meters away, and it sailed over the goalkeeper’s head and outstretched arms. In the 86th, Schroeder earned her second goal for the fourth straight game, and eighth overall. Schroeder headed it in from a perfect corner kick by Offreda. Despite the loss, the Germans were upbeat about their second-place finish. They upset the Russians, 4-3, in the semifinals after being down, 3-0, at halftime. “If the Germans were more fit, it’d be 0-0,” Schroeder said. In the meantime, the U.S. women are clutching their gold medals on the final night before the closing ceremony, when the Deaflympic fire will be extinguished. |
 (Photo by Sina McCarthy)
 (Photo by Sina McCarthy)
 (Photo by Jason Chiou)
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