THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) The U.S. women maintained their strong run at the field hockey World Cup, ousting Germany from the tournament with a 4-1 victory Sunday.
Kathleen Sharkey scored twice for the Americans, who lead Group B with 10 points and are all but certain of their first trip to the semifinals in 20 years.
Sharkey beat German goalie Kim Platten in the 33rd minute with a shot that bounced in off the right post. She then poached a pass from a German defender and struck in the 52nd minute. Between Sharkey's goals, Caroline Nichols and Katie Reinprecht scored. Germany's Kristina Hillmann had a goal in the 60th minute.
U.S. captain Lauren Crandall says the team is deeper since its 12th-place finish at the London Olympics. She says there is ''fresh energy coming in'' and ''some younger girls coming up.''
In other women's matches in Group B, Argentina beat England 2-1 and China defeated South Africa 4-3.
In the men's competition, Andy Hayward had a hat trick for New Zealand, but Germany won 5-3 in Group B. The Netherlands, the Group B leader, routed South Africa 7-1 to take a semifinal spot. Argentina beat South Korea 5-0 and needs only one point from its final match against South Africa on Tuesday to advance.
