Hockeyroos Claim Silver at World League

The Hockeyroos had to settle for silver at the inaugural World League tournament in Tucuman as an inspired Dutch comeback saw the Olympic champions claim the gold medal, cancelling out Australia’s half time advantage to win 5-1.

Canberra’s Anna Flanagan, the 2012 World Young Player of the Year, had given the Hockeyroos a dream start with a penalty corner goal in the sixth minute and the Aussie women held strong to lead 1-0 at the break.

But a whirlwind spell in the second half saw the Dutch score twice in a minute to turn the game on its head with Kitty van Male making it 3-1 with just under 20 minutes remaining. As the Hockeyroos pushed upfield in search of their own comeback the clinical Dutch forward line added two more goals late on.

Speaking immediately after the final whistle, Hockeyroos Head Coach Adam Commens called it “a disappointing end to the tournament” before saying he was “very pleased with the week. It’s been a fantastic tournament by the girls and it shows how we’ve grown and progressed.”

Commens added, “We’re now among the top teams in the world. Although the score might not have reflected it today, we’re competitive with the best teams in the world and well placed going into the World Cup next year.”

Talking about the game, he explained, “I thought we were solid in the first half, we defended well and broke well on the counter attack. They [the Netherlands] scored a couple of freak goals which put us on the back foot. We were then chasing the game which left gaps at the back which the Netherlands took advantage of.”

Australia were quickly out of the blocks with Flanagan’s deflected penalty corner sparking wild scenes of celebration amongst the Argentinian fans that had adopted the Hockeyroos as their own during the tournament. Following the strike, the Hockeyroos survived several close calls as the ball twice flashed across the face of goal and Madonna Blyth and Eddie Bone each made telling interventions. The Hockeyroos put everything on the line to repel their opponents with Karri McMahon leaving the pitch following a ball to the head, although she returned five minutes later.

Five minutes into the second half Kate Jenner and Kirstin Johnson combined to clear danger from the Hockeyroos’ goal line but it was merely a warning as three minutes later the Dutch struck level. Set-piece expert Paumen flashed a penalty corner into the bottom corner and less than 60 seconds later the Netherlands took the lead through Rosalin Drost.

The turnaround saw the Hockeyroos push upfield in search of an equaliser with Georgie Parker coming close with a first time effort before Kitty van Male made it 3-1 at the other end. Emily Smith and Parker had further half chances before Paumen netted an identical penalty corner with seven minutes remaining to put the result beyond doubt.

Anna Flanagan’s late set-piece flick missed the top corner by mere millimetres but there was still time for livewire Lidewij Welten to fire home a fifth for the Netherlands after displaying exceptional control under pressure from Australian goalkeeper Rachael Lynch.

Despite the result, the silver medal caps an excellent year for the Hockeyroos, who have also won the Oceania Cup and World League Semi-Final Tournament gold medals, the International Super Series title and qualified for the 2014 World Cup in The Hague.

WAIS scholarship holder Ashleigh Nelson featured in the match and throughout the tournament for the Hockeyroos.

Earlier:

The Hockeyroos set up a shot at gold after a stunning 3-0 win over rivals England in their semi-final.

It was a confident performance from the Hockeyroos in the match dubbed “hockey’s ashes” with Jodie Schulz, Georgie Parker and Karri McMahon all finding the back of the net in a period of less than ten minutes either side of half time.

Australia dominated the match and found themselves denied a much greater margin of victory by English goalkeeper Maddie Hinch, who thwarted, amongst others, Ashleigh Nelson on three first-half occasions.

Hockeyroos Head Coach Adam Commens called it “a very satisfying win”, adding, “We were really clinical and it was probably our best performance of the tournament. We played well; the girls stuck to our game plan and made good decisions, both on and off the ball.

Australia’s women have reached the final in each of their last three major competitions, emerging as the winners of the Oceania Cup, Investec World League semi-final tournament and Champions Challenge.

Commens added, “It’s important to play in finals hockey and the World League final will be another challenge. This is our fourth final in the last four tournaments and is good preparation for next year’s World Cup.”

After taking the lead shortly before half time and despite scoring twice in a lightning quick start to the second period, the Sydney Olympic bronze medal winner said there had been no special instructions at half time.

“We didn’t say anything special. We talked about what we expected from England in the second half and what we wanted to do at penalty corners but the main message was if we continue to create enough chances then more goals would come,” said Commens.

A dominant opening half hour had failed to reward the Hockeyroos’ persistence. When it came, Queenslander Jodie Schulz’s opening goal just three minutes before half time was well deserved but came in controversial circumstances. As Australia celebrated England appealed to the video umpire citing a telling deflection off the body of Teneal Attard on its route to goal. Replays appeared to show the possibility that the ball had deviated as it went past Attard but the goal was given and Australia led 1-0 at the break.

But it was the Hockeyroos’ blistering start to the second half that rocked England. With Ashleigh Nelson, Georgie Parker, Madonna Blyth and Emily Smith all involved, Australia pressed England deep inside their defensive circle and as England failed to clear their lines Georgie Parker forced the ball home to double the Hockeyroos’ advantage.

Just four minutes later it was 3-0. Karri McMahon had yet to have a sighter at goal all tournament but it didn’t seem to matter as the South Australian defender fired an unstoppable drag flick into the far corner of the net from a penalty corner.

With the Hockeyroos three goals up goalkeeper Rachael Lynch was called upon to make several saves, including a top drawer gloved save from Alex Danson’s superb tomahawk, but she and her defence were equal to everything thrown at them.

A flurry of green and yellow cards left the Hockeyroos with ten players at times late on and there was some concern for Victorian Claire Messent who left the field with a bleeding nose late on but Australia marched on to claim their place in the final.

-HockeyAustralia