U.S. Women Wake Up in Time to Tie Dutch

With a few players bleary-eyed after staying at the opening ceremonies until well after midnight and then rising for a 6:30 a.m. breakfast, the U.S. women’s field hockey team struggled for 50 minutes before salvaging a 1-1 tie with the Netherlands.

The U.S. men were overmatched in their opener against perennial world powerhouse Pakistan, losing, 4-0, to stay winless in 24 Olympic matches.

The first day’s play in the men’s tournament also included a result unimaginable only a few years ago. Argentina, an upstart in hockey, beat India, one of the old-line powers, 1-0. Spain beat Germany, 1-0.

For the U.S. women, Barb Marois’ hard shot off a pass-in deflected off Marcia Pankratz for the tying goal with less than two minutes to go. Ellen Kuipers scored on a breakaway in the 63rd minute for the Netherlands.

In other women’s matches, favored Australia whipped Spain, 4-0; Germany beat Argentina, 2-0; and South Korea stunned Britain, the 1992 bronze medalist, 5-0.