HOCKEY: The Australian women's hockey team and the USA have tied 2 - 2 in their first game at the Champions Trophy 2016 after an early lead by the Australians going into the first break.
Eight minutes into the game and the Hockeyroos scored the first chance to get on the scoreboard with a penalty corner attempt. After the injection by Kathryn Slattery and trap by captain Madonna Blyth the flick went flying and narrowly missed goal.
With just two minutes to go in the first quarter, Kathryn Slattery flew into the scoring circle and smacked the ball into the net to get a field goal for Australia, giving the Hockeyroos the lead going into the quarter time break.
Jill Witmer got the USA on the board only minutes into the second quarter after a deflection from a previous shot on goal. The Hockeyroos were fighting and within minutes had the ball back in their circle for a penalty corner shot but the opportunity just missed on conversion.
Right on the half time buzzer and the Hockeyroos were awarded two shots at penalty corners with the second only just outside of the net. At the half time break the score was tied at 1 all.
Three minutes into the third quarter and Georgie Parker ran the ball up to the Hockeyroos end of play. With the ball in the Australian circle Grace Stewart hit a deflection high into the net and over the goalkeepers head scoring a field goal for the Australians.
Two minutes into the final quarter and the score equalised with Caitlin Van Sickle of the USA getting a field goal in past Australian goalkeeper Ashlee Wells.
With a minute to go in the final quarter Australia were up for a triple chance at penalty corner, but the conversion didn’t come. With only seconds to go Australia were up for one more chance to take the game from the USA, however the game ended with a 2 - all tie between the sides.
Hockeyroos Head Coach Adam Commens said: “I was really pleased with the performance. We played a couple of practice matches in the lead up and they were very inconsistent in the way that we played, there were patches of good stuff there, but I thought today was a much more consistent and comprehensive performance. We created a lot of chances.
“Obviously leading into the Olympics the USA are a key opponent of ours and we have to be mindful of what we show at this tournament. We were still trying to win that’s for sure, but there are a couple of things that we have up our sleeve and I thought ultimately the way we executed our game plan was excellent.”
The Hockeyroos next play New Zealand on Sunday the 19 June at 4pm BST / 11pm AWST / 1am AEST (Monday 20).
Results today
AUS 2 – 2 USA
ARG – GBR
NED - NZL
Hockeyroos’ squad v USA
Madonna Blyth (Brisbane, QLD) 331/70
Jane Claxton (Adelaide, SA) 97/9
Jodie Kenny (Wamuran, QLD) 175/96
Karri McMahon (Berri, SA) 99/9
Georgina Morgan (Armidale, NSW) 41/8
Georgie Parker (Berri, SA), 97/31
Brooke Peris (Darwin, NT) 90/13
Casey Sablowski (Albion Park, NSW) 247/44
Emily Smith (Crookwell, NSW) 152/61
Ashlee Wells (Morwell, VIC) 75/0
Mariah Williams (Parkes, NSW)45/5
Used Substitute
Edwina Bone (Evatt, ACT) 110/2
Kirsten Dwyer (Mackay, QLD) 103/2
Gabrielle Nance (Kingscliff, SA) 35/2
Georgia Nanscawen (Melbourne, VIC) 178/35
Kathryn Slattery (South Stirling, WA) 51/14
Grace Stewart (Gerringong, NSW) 17/8
Unused Substitute
Rachael Lynch (Warrandyte, VIC) 147/0
Hockeyroos’ Fixtures
Sunday 19 June: AUS v NZL | 4pm BST / 11pm AWST / 1am AEST (Monday 20)
Tuesday 21 June: AUS v ARG | 2.30pm BST / 9.30pm AWST / 11.30pm AEST
Thursday 23 June: AUS v NED | 6pm BST / 1am AWST (Friday 24) / 3am AEST (Friday 24)
Saturday 25 June: GBR v AUS | 4pm BST / 11pm AWST / 1am AEST (Sunday 26)
Sunday 26 June: Finals TBC
Hockey Australia
