Bing Leads USA Field Hockey to 2024 Olympic Berth

RANCHI, India – Powered by an exceptional performance between the posts by former Stanford goalkeeper Kelsey Bing, USA Field Hockey punched their ticket to the 2024 Olympic Games with a second-place finish at the FIH Hockey Olympic Qualifier on Friday morning.
 
It is Team USA's first Olympic berth since the 2016 Games of the XXI Olympiad in Rio de Janeiro, where the United States placed second in the group stage before falling to Germany, 2-1, in the knockout bracket.
 
Action began on Saturday, Jan. 13, as the U.S. Women's National Team knocked off sixth-ranked host nation India, 1-0. After scoring within the first minute of the match, Bing fended off twelve India shots in the contest to give USA the win in a defensive affair.  Following, the former Cardinal netminder was named Player of the Match for her effort in goal.
 
The following day, the United States notched their second victory of the group stage, blanking No. 19 Italy by a score of 2-0 before closing out pool play on Tuesday with a 1-0 victory over No. 10 New Zealand in yet another shutout effort.
 
With a spot in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games on the line, USWNT rallied back from a one-goal deficit to defeat No. 9 Japan on Thursday evening. After Bing conceded her first goal in three games off a second-chance effort in the second quarter, the United States responded with a pair of goals in the final frame to punch their ticket to Paris.
 
The tournament concluded on Friday morning as Team USA fell to fifth-ranked Germany, 2-0, to claim the silver medal. During closing ceremonies, Bing was named Best Goalkeeper of the tournament.
 
Field hockey at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris is scheduled to take place from July 27 to August 9 in the historic venue, Stade Yves-du-Manoir.