The American Women’s Field Hockey Team suffered its worst loss yet as it lost 7-0 to South Africa in their Group B finale.
The U.S. entered Monday’s match eliminated from medal contention but with a chance to still at least finish fifth in their draw while the South Africans came into action with zero wins -- opponents outscoring them 14 to 2 through four games.
The American team -- featuring 11 women with ties to the Philadelphia region -- played like a team not interested in a ninth-place game as they allowed the weak South African team to score early and often. The Americans now must play in Friday's 11th-place classification game against winless Belgium.
The South Africans needed to win by six to rise above the U.S., and led by that much by the 53rd minute. Tarryn Bright and Pietie Coetzee scored twice each.
The Americans managed just six shots to 27 for South Africa. The south Africans took advantage as Bright got them on the board in the 13th minute. South Africa would add three more goals including a late penalty corner from Coetzee to take a 4-0 lead into the half.
WATCH: U.S. loses badly to South Africa
Three more goals by the South Africans capped the scoring as American goalie Grantville, Pa.’s Amy Tran-Swensen could do little to stop the barrage of shots.
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The Americans, which entered the Olympics ranked 10th in the world, will leave below that rank having spoiled an early upset of Argentina by losing their final three group games by a combined score of 11-2.
