2008 Paralympic Games

Day 1 - Sept. 7

Sept. 7, 2008

BEIJING, China - With only 57 seconds to go the United States Women's Goalball Team wins 2-0 against Japan. 

"It doesn't matter who scored the winning goal; just as long as we scored at least one, "said Asya Miller, (Colorado Springs, CO), "getting two goals just makes it a little sweeter."

"I have told the team all year, defense will win this tournament; offense will hold up, said U.S. Head Coach,Women's Goalball Ken Armbruster (Colorado Springs, Colo.), "We've really got to give credit to the team from Japan, they really played a good game."

The 2008 Paralympic women's goalball competition is shaping up to be an exciting series of match ups in Beijing. The eight team pool includes USA, Brazil, Canada, China, Denmark, Germany, Japan and Sweden. So far, the silver medal 2004 U.S. Paralympic Women's Goalball Team has faced each of their upcoming Paralympic competitors (with the exception of Brazil) in the lead up to Beijing.

The team captured a gold medal in a double-overtime game against China at the 2008 Malmo Intercup Tournament, held in Sweden, June 2-5. However, in July, an up-and-coming Denmark team recently defeated the 2004 Paralympic gold medalists, Canada, for the win at the Lakeshore Foundation's International Goalball Classic. Team USA won a bronze, respectively.

The 2008 U.S. Paralympic Women's Goalball Team is stacked with veteran talent led by five-time Paralympian Jen Armbruster (Colorado Springs, Colo.). Three-time Paralympians Lisa Banta (Boonton, N.J.) and Asya Miller (Lapeer, Mich.) will also add depth and experience to the team. Two time Paralympians Robin Theryoung (Colorado Springs, Colo.) and Jessica Lorenz (Berkley, Calif.) and first-time Paralympian Jackie Barnes (Wadsworth, Ill.) round out the group.

The coaching staff includes Ken Armbruster (Colorado Springs, Colo.) and Sharon Gunderman (Dubois, Pa.) with support staff including Gwyneth Short (Lakewood, Colo.) and Lou Tompson (Landrum, S.C.).

The team began pool play today, the top four teams after pool play advance to the semifinal and final rounds on Sept. 14. The team meets with Denmark next.

All games will be played at the Beijing Institute of Technology Gymnasium.

U.S. Men's Goalball Team Loses 3-13 to China

In the lead up to the Games, China won the Good Luck Games Paralympic Test Event and repeated the win in front of their hometown fans tonight in a preliminary game.

"There is definitely a hometown advantage playing on the same court your team has practiced on the whole year...that's for any team," said U.S head coach, Thomas Parrigin.  "Most would think it's the hometown crowd, which doesn't hurt, but it's the floor.  The fact that China knows every inch of that is the advantage."

"The U.S team is notorious for being a slow starting team, we hope to see China in the final gold medal match," said Parrigin.

Team USA is led by veterans Chris Dodds (Logan, Utah), starting center, and Donte Mickens (Tallahassee, Fla.), who were both part of the 2004 Athens Paralympic Team along with Tyler Merren (Kalamazoo, Mich.) and Eddie Munro (St. Augustine, Fla.). Newcomers Daryl Walker (Jacksonville, Fla.) and Steve Denuyl (Kalamazoo, Mich.) will bring excitement to the experienced team.

For more information or to arrange an athlete interview, please contact Amy Rohlfs at 13910754531 (if calling from the U.S., dial 011 86 plus the local number).