American field hockey team grabs ticket to Olympics

Team USA after winning ticket to Olympic Games.Photo Gallery>>(BEIJING, April 28) -- After defeating Belgium 3-1 at the Olympic field hockey qualifying tournament in Kazan, Russia, a six-round undefeated American team has secured its ticket to the August Games.

The Netherlands Antilles finished third, followed by India, Russia and France.

As the two closely matched teams stood one and two, after team USA beat the Belgians by a narrow margin in a previous game, the final was quite intense. Eighteen minutes after the start of the game, women from the USA side broke the deadlock, but were answered quickly by a strong Belgian offence, setting the game at a 1-all tie. Tiffany Snow of the USA didn't take this lightly, smashing in a nice goal in the 33rd minute. When the whistle blew signaling the end of the first half, the Americans were ahead, 2-1.

With Kate Barber's goal in the second half, the Americans took home the championship title of the competition. The Belgians disappointedly grab the silver.

In the fight for third place, the Netherlands Antilles defeated India 2-1. They are followed by Russia who took fourth place after beating France 2-1.

Notable players during this tournament include Belgian Elizabeth Achten, American Rachel Dawson, and India's 14-year old Rani Devi, who was selected as the player with the most potential.

Another six teams, namely Italy, Republic of Korea, Ireland, Canada, Malaysia, and Uruguay, are currently dueling it out in Victoria for the last entrance ticket to the Olympic Games. That tournament is scheduled to yield the final results on May 4.