THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, July 29, 1996 TAG: 9607290185
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C4 EDITION: FINAL
SERIES: OLYMPICS
From Atlanta
SOURCE: Tom Robinson
LENGTH: 61 lines
Laurel Martin has done all she could to help the U.S. women's field hockey team in the Olympics. Unfortunately for the Virginia Beach resident, her opportunity and influence have been minimal as the Americans have faded from medal contention.
Sunday, Martin again put a lot into a little, playing her usual 10 or 12 minutes. But by the time she entered in the first half - she did not play in the second - the mighty Australians had their 4-0 rout well underway.
Man, those Aussies. Waltzing Matildas, they ain't. Out there on the hockey pitch, the Hockeyroos, as they're known in the business, dance to their own rollicking tune.
They swarmed over the U.S., scoring all four goals in the first 24 minutes and placing its medal hopes in serious peril. And later Sunday, when Argentina tied Korea, t elbowed the Americans totally out of the picture.
It's not how it was supposed to happen. No one's surprised the super-quick Australians, who stick-handle like crazy and shoot from all angles, are sprinting toward gold.
But the U.S. team - which also includes former Old Dominion players Kelli James and Jill Reeve - had realistic hopes of reaching the final. And after tying the Netherlands in the opener and pulling out a late 3-2 victory over Korea, the U.S., third-ranked in the world coming in, felt well-positioned to make its run.
Instead, pratfalls - losses to Great Britain and Argentina, a tie with Germany, and the wipeout by Australia.
``Yeah, it's been downhill from there,'' Martin said Sunday. ``We can beat every team that's here. It's a matter of when we decide to go out there and play and when we don't. And we aren't playing up to our capability all the time. So we take it on the chin.''
Martin chose her words carefully, and spoke them deliberately. Minutes-played statistics aren't kept, but it's clear Martin figured the Olympics, her final tournament after six years with the national team, would present her more of a chance to contribute.
``All I know is every second that I'm in there, I am playing well,'' Martin said. ``I don't question my performance at all. I play well . . . whenever I'm in.''
U.S. coach Pam Hixon said Martin's simply playing the same role - experienced sparkplug off the bench - she moved into after returning to the squad from maternity leave in March.
``Because of Laurel's pregnancy, physically she's not at the same level as the rest of the team in terms of being able to handle the up-tempo style that our opponents and we want to play,'' Hixon said.
``As all competitors, she wishes for more time. But I think that she's accepted her role well and she's given us what she has.''
Martin wouldn't give anything less. It's still a hard way for her to go out. ILLUSTRATION: ASSOCIATED PRESS
Former ODU player Laurel Martin, left, wishes she had more to
celebrate, like this goal in last week's victory over South Korea.
Lately, the team's fortunes have changed with losses to Great
Britain, Argentina and Australia. by CNB