The Hockeyroos, including WAIS athletes Hope Munro, Ashleigh Nelson and Fiona Boyce, have narrowly missed out on taking home the title at the 2009 Samsung Champions Trophy after losing on penalty strokes to Argentina.
After stunning Olympic Gold Medallists The Netherlands 2-1 in Saturday’s final round match to qualify for the final, the young Australian side took to the field confident of winning the tournament for the first time since 2003.
The match started in front a big crowd at Sydney Olympic Park with 70 minutes of thrilling normal time play. With neither side able to break the deadlock extra time was called for to decide a winner.
The two sides were so evenly matched that seven and a half minutes extra time each way still couldn’t seperate them, with the 2009 Champions Trophy winner to be crowned after penalty strokes.
Australian coach Frank Murray chose Nicole Arrold, Casey Eastham, Madonna Blyth and Emily Hurtz as the takers of the first four penalties, with WAIS’s recent debutant Boyce handed the responsibility for the final penalty.
Arrold’s first strike was saved by the goal keeper, giving Argentina a 1-0 lead after each side had taken their first penalty.
Eastham was successful and then Australian goalie Toni Cronk saved Argentina’s second to tie scores at 1-1. Hockeyroos Captain Madonna Blyth was next, hitting the spot before the Argentines did similar to keep scores level.
The fourth penalties for each side was a carbon copy with Hurtz putting her shot in the back of the net, followed soon by opponent Silvina D’Elia.
It was left to Boyce to keep Australia in the hunt and unfortunately for the young gun the goalkeeper was up to the task and saved her shot, leaving Argentina’s Captain Luciana Aymar to secure victory with the final penalty.
The heartbreaking final scoreline was a 4-3 penalty stroke victory to the defending champions.
Earlier in the tournament the Hockeyroos secured their finals berth with a stunning 2-1 upset win over The Netherlands.
Goals to Eastham in the second minute and Arrold in the 43rd were enough for Australia to join Argentina in the final, the first time since 2005 that the Hockeyroos had made the tournament’s final.
