Medal Hopes Dim for American Women

The U.S. women’s field hockey team lost in a court of appeals, then played to a tie on the field, nearly ending its medal hopes with two games to play.

Field hockey officials rejected the team’s protest of Thursday night’s 2-1 loss to Argentina hours before it played Germany to a 1-1 draw.

Despite having only one victory and two ties in five games, U.S. Coach Pam Hixon has not given up hope for a medal.

The draw left the Americans tied with three other teams for the fourth and final qualifying spot for the semifinals, but with an extra game played.

The Americans claimed they were deprived of precious seconds at the end of Thursday’s game.

In a men’s game, the United States was blitzed again as Spain, the first-place team in Pool A, took a 3-0 lead en route to a 7-1 victory.

Defending-champion Germany beat Pan-American champion Argentina, 3-0.