USA Defense Improves

In their second match of three games on back-to-back-to-back games, the USA Junior Women's team lost 34-12 to the U21 Czech Republic selection on Saturday in Wilkowice, Poland.

Coach Marko Brezic's staring lineup included UNC's Sarah Whitley and Whitney Gelin, Colorado Landshark Stephanie Hesser, Iceland-based Morgan Thorkelsdottier (at 14, the youngest player in the tournament) and Germany-based players Jen Haubrich, Julia Sayer and Sophie Fasold.

After surrendering 59 goals to the European U21 Champs Norway, and 45 goals to the World Championships-bound Senior Polish team, the USA turned up the defensive intensity and had good success stifling the Czechs.

Jen Haubrich led USA scorers for the third consecutive game with six goals; The Colorado contingent picked up the bulk of the other goals, with Hesser notching a pair of goals, and Taylor Proctor, Kate Louthan and Amber Turner each getting on the scoresheet. Julia Sayer scored for the third consecutive game.

The USA wraps up their week in Poland on Sunday with a game against the hosts at the Polish Olympic Training Center in the mountain resort of Szczyrk.