The June 2 match between the U.S. women’s national team and New Zealand in Oneonta, N.Y. was suspended after just 12 minutes due to the threat of lightning and a tornado warning. 18 minutes after the game was stopped, officials moved the capacity crowd into Binder Gymnasium on the Hartwick University campus as rain began to fall and lightning bolts were seen on the horizon. After an hour and 28 minute delay during steady rain, thunder and lightning, U.S. Soccer officals cancelled the match. A tornado reportedly passed within five miles of the campus. The U.S. held a 1-0 lead when play was stopped, as Michelle Akers took a pass from Tisha Venturini in the 5th minute, fended off a pair of defenders and cracked a 23-yard shot into the left corner for the goal, which will not count in her career statistics since the game did not reach halftime. None of the players who started the match will receive an international appearance. “It was starting to look like a competitive game,” said U.S. coach Tony DiCicco. “We scored early, but New Zealand looked to have more fight and energy than in the last match [a 5-0 U.S. victory in Washington, D.C. on Saturday]. This is not the way we wanted to end our long road trip, but we had to stay on the side of safety.” The U.S. women will reconvene in St. Louis on June 22 to prepare for matches against European champion Germany on June 25 in St. Louis, and June 28 in Chicago.