U.S. women's field hockey shut out by Australia

London, England – The United States women's field hockey team failed to secure a needed win on Thursday, falling 1-0 to Australia in Pool B play.

The only goal of the match came in the first half at the 33rd-minute mark by Australia's Anna Flanagan, and the U.S. failed to get any of its seven shots by goalkeeper Toni Cronk.

USA sits in a fifth place, three points back of four other teams.

Three teams had a chance to keep perfect records in tact, and all but one were able to pull off the feat.

The Netherlands were the first to go to 3-0 with a a 1-0 win vs. China in a rematch of the 2008 Beijing Games gold medal match, won by the Dutch. Great Britain kept pace with a 3-0 triumph over Belgium and those wins have the clubs atop Pool A with nine points.

Crista Cullen, Laura Bartlett and Ashleigh Ball all scored for the Brits.

The other Pool B play on Thursday saw South Korea hand Japan a 1-0 loss.

New Zealand, however, failed to grab the outright lead in Pool B following a 2-1 loss to Argentina, which got both of its goals from Carla Rebecchi.

New Zealand, Australia, Germany (which beat South Africa 2-0) and Argentina all have six points in the standings.