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Late in the first quarter, Wyoming Seminary graduate Kat Sharkey got her stick on a shot that couldn’t quite find the cage.

In the third quarter, her former Sem teammate Kelsey Kolojejchick tipped a pass wide of the net.

From beginning to end, the ball never did bounce the USA’s way.

Germany scored two quick goals Monday and made it stand up to take a 2-1 quarterfinal-round victory over Team USA and eliminate the United States from the Olympic women’s field hockey tournament quarterfinals in Rio De Janeiro.

“They played a good game,” Kolojejchick said through a USA field hockey spokesperson. “I thought we just made a few little mistakes in the beginning of the game to give them a little momentum. I think we fought really hard. They just got us a little early.”

A determined United States team tried to rally.

After Katelyn Falgowski cut Germany’s lead in half with a goal at the 3:59 mark, the United States had a golden opportunity to tie the game when the team’s leading scorer Katie Bam drove into the circle and tried to drive a ball into the net.

She never really got the chance.

Bam was engaged by a Germany player who prevented a full swing on her backhand attempt and then collided with Bam, who went to the ground and was helped from the game.

An enraged USA coach Craig Parnham called for a penalty corner, to no avail. The ball went to Germany .

Earlier, it appeared Kolojejchick created a penalty corner when her pass went off the leg of a German player inside the circle. But Germany called for a video review for a play some 20 seconds earlier, challenging that a dribble went off Bam’s stick and hit her foot. The review reversed the corner call, sending the ball back to Germany.

“The officiating was very questionable,” Tom Sharkey, Kat’s dad who attended the tournament in Brazil, said through an email. “But we don’t want to make any excuses. We needed to score more goals no matter what the officials did.”

Officiating also came into play during Team USA’s first loss, a 3-2 comeback by Great Britain on Saturday that cost the United States the top seed in Group B.

This defeat was much more damaging.

The USA was eliminated from the Olympic tournament in the first round of the knockout round, finishing its Olympic run at 4-2 overall and with twice as many victories as the United States has managed in any Olympic run. The 1984 United States team finished with two wins to win the bronze medal at the Los Angeles Olympics to remain as the nation’s only women’s field hockey medalist.

“I love this group of girls,” Kolojejchick said. “I wouldn’t want to play on any other team. It’s just disappointing we obviously didn’t get to the medal round.”

Not that Kolojejchick and Sharkey didn’t try to put Team USA in position play for the medal stand.

Sharkey, from Moosic, got her stick on a hard crossing pass near the goal line in the final minute of the first quarter, only to tip it to the side of the cage. She also drew an apparent free hit on an obstruction call in the second quarter, only to have the ruling reversed by video review. And Sharkey’s pretty pass to the center of the circle set up a direct shot on goal that was turned away.

“Her dad and I feel that this was one of her best tournaments ever,” Anne Sharkey, Kat’s mom, emailed about her daughter. “She not only helped the team offensively but defensively as well. Her off-ball movement was key to making space to help other teammates advance up the field.”

As the game wore on, Kolojejchick seemed intent on trying to help Team USA advance.

The Larksville native drew a penalty corner that led to her tip in the final two minutes of the third quarter, but the ball was re-directed wide of post. A little later, Kolojejchick delivered a hard centering pass that set up another United States chance, but the shot missed is mark.

“Could not be more proud of Kelsey and all that she has accomplished,” her brother, former Wyoming Valley West football standout Matt Kolojejchick, emailed before the quarterfinal game. “Witnessing her achieve her goal of playing in the Olympics is a fulfillment unlike any other. Seeing all the hard work, blood, sweat, and tears she has put in throughout her career pay off is fulfilling.”

By the time the first period was finished, though, Germany had gained firm control. Entering as the No. 3 seed from Group A against Group B’s No. 2 squad Team USA, Germany rattled off goals from Marie Mavers and Lisa Altenburg in the opening quarter to put Team USA two goals behind for the first time in the tournament.

The USA nearly gained some hope when Katie Reinprecht appeared to punch in a goal with a diving attempt at a rebound sitting at the Germany goalmouth. But officials determined the ball crossed the goal line after making direct contact with Reinprecht’s knee, nullifying the goal.

By the time expired, Team USA’s medal dream was taken away, too, as the victory moved 3-2-1 Germany into Wednesday’s semifinal round against either the Netherlands or Argentina.

Team USA will move on with nothing but pride from its most successful Olympic performance in terms of victories.

“It was a great one,” Kelsey Kolojejchick said of her Olympic experience. “I’m proud of us to never give up. That’s always been our motto. I love this team.

“I wouldn’t trade it for the world.”

Former Wyoming Seminary star and USA Olympic starter Kelsey Kolojejchick leaves the field after Team USA lost to Germany, 2-1 Monday, in a women’s field hockey quarterfinal game at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/web1_kelsey-3.jpg.optimal.jpgFormer Wyoming Seminary star and USA Olympic starter Kelsey Kolojejchick leaves the field after Team USA lost to Germany, 2-1 Monday, in a women’s field hockey quarterfinal game at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Dario Lopez-Mills | AP photo

United States coach Craig Parnham, right, hugs former Wyoming Seminary star and Team USA forward Kat Sharkey, after the team’s loss to Germany.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/web1_shark-2-1-2.jpg.optimal.jpgUnited States coach Craig Parnham, right, hugs former Wyoming Seminary star and Team USA forward Kat Sharkey, after the team’s loss to Germany. Hussein Malla | AP photo

Wyoming Seminary grad Kelsey Kolojejchick’s aggressive play down the stretch provided opportunities, but Team USA lost to Germany, 2-1, in the women’s field hockey tournament in Rio on Monday.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/web1_kelsey-2-2.jpg.optimal.jpgWyoming Seminary grad Kelsey Kolojejchick’s aggressive play down the stretch provided opportunities, but Team USA lost to Germany, 2-1, in the women’s field hockey tournament in Rio on Monday. Dario Lopez-Mills | AP photo
Kolojejchick and Sharkey can’t rally squad into Olympic semifinals

By Paul Sokoloski

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Reach Paul Sokoloski at 570-991-6392 or on Twitter @TLPaulSokoloski