USA FIELD HOCKEY: Team USA wins, 1-0

The road to the 1996 Olympics for the U.S. women's field hockey team passed through Franklin Field yesterday. A crowd of 5,000 spectators watched the U.S., ranked No. 3 in the world, defeat Ireland 1-0 as part of a doubleheader with the Penn-William & Mary game. Forward Tara Maguire, younger sister of former Penn forward and '94 grad Fran Maguire, scored the only goal of the game 21 minutes into the first period. "Diane Madl tipped it up to me and I was just there for the last touch," said Maguire, describing the goal. U.S. coach Pam Hixon said her team played an aggressive up-tempo passing game in the first period but then slowed down during the second period. "We didn't pass as much as we should have," she said. "We need to play like we did in the first half on a more consistent basis." Ireland coach Terry Gregg said Ireland was attacking better in the second half after playing a poor first half. "They took out our main midfielder but once we moved her around we were able to open up our play," Gregg said. The tour is a chance for the young Ireland team to get experience as it prepares for the 2000 Olympic qualifying tournament, which takes place in 1997 in South Africa, he added. Ireland did not qualify for the Olympics in Atlanta. The U.S. national team -- which will be competing against World Cup Champion Australia and Korea for the gold medal -- began its Road to Atlanta tour in Boston last Wednesday at Boston College, where it also beat Ireland 1-0. According to Hixon, the tour's purpose is to promote the sport of field hockey and provide the opportunity for field hockey fans to see international competition. "We're basically trying to create some heroes for younger athletes and cultivate the growing interest in field hockey," Hixon said. Clinics are held for players and coaches in conjunction with the matches. Although a clinic was not held in Philadelphia, local field hockey players attended the two-hour clinic given in Princeton Saturday. "It's an opportunity for young athletes to be coached by Olympic hopefuls," Hixon said. After the game, the U.S. team held an autograph session -- signing anything from shirts to posters to field hockey balls. For Maguire, who grew up in Wyndmoor, Pa., it was the first time that her parents were able to see her play on the international level. "It was a great feeling to be out there in front of all my friends and family," Maguire said.