The U.S. women’s team won back-to-back gold medals at the FIL World Cup in England and the IWGA World Games in Poland behind a signature style of play that was high tempo and high pressure.
Whenever goalies called out “Bingo,” the defense swarmed. Defenders forced their attackers out, and if the ball carrier advanced near the goal line, the U.S. goalie would step out of her crease to double team.
Goalie Gussie Johns learned the tactic from Devon Wills, the three-time World Cup gold medalist and her coach at USC. When Team USA progressed from World Cup to World Games this summer, Wills played the field as a defender, with Johns between the pipes.
“I’ve done it in practice at USC, because she would step in and do scout team with us,” Johns said. “We had so much trust in each other. That’s the most important thing between a goalie and her defensive team.”