FIELD HOCKEY : U.S. to Play Against Top International Teams

If its ranking has anything to do with it, the U.S. women’s national field hockey team could be in trouble this week.

But don’t tell that to the team.

The 13th-ranked U.S. team considers the Trophy tournament starting tonight at East Los Angeles College as a chance to change its course and earn some respect against three of the top international teams.

The United States will play host in the four-day tournament to No. 1 Australia, the defending Olympic champion; No. 3 Holland and No. 6 Canada. If the Americans play well, it will increase their chances for an invitation to the 1992 Olympic qualifying tournament.

But if they play poorly . . .

“We have to get invited to the tournament to even get the chance to qualify for the Olympics, “ said Barbara Marois, captain of the U.S. team. “That’s why it’s important to do well against these teams. Then perhaps we can get the chance to play in other selected tournaments on our way to qualifying for the Olympics.

“We didn’t do well in India. It was a frustrating experience because we felt we should have played better. So, we’re not in the World Cup, and that was real important.”

In order to play in the 1990 World Cup, the U.S. team needed a top-four finish in the Intercontinental Cup tournament last November at New Delhi, India. The American women finished fifth.

And even with a good showing at the East L.A. tournament, the U.S. team may might find it difficult to qualify for the 1992 Olympics.

Noreen Landis-Tyson, a team official, says that the international field hockey federation will hold one tournament to determine the remaining five teams to compete in the eight-team Olympic format.

“If they have a 12-team tournament, the U.S. team has a chance to be invited,” Landis-Tyson said. “But if there is an eight-team tournament, there’s no way. That’s why our level of play in this tournament is important. We need to prove to them they need to increase the tournament to 12 teams.”

The round-robin competition, at Weingart Stadium, will be held tonight and Thursday beginning at 6 p.m., and on Saturday and Sunday beginning at 1 p.m.