Hockeyroos End Perth Test Series with 3-1 Defeat

The Hockeyroos have been beaten 3-1 in the final Test match against Korea in Perth with the series drawn two wins a piece.

An enterprising start saw the Hockeyroos create three good opportunities to take the lead inside the opening ten minutes but it was the visitors that broke the deadlock after quarter of an hour through Cheon Seul Ki from a penalty corner. Five minutes later the Koreans were two up through Park Mi Hyun; the captain grabbing her third of the series from close range after Toni Cronk’s initial save.

McMahon’s goal from a 23rd minute penalty corner flew into the net via the pads of the goalkeeper to half the deficit and things might have been very different had Anna Flanagan’s drag flick not cannoned back off the top of the post two minutes later.

Instead, it was Korea who found the back of the net shortly after half time through Cheon’s second of the game; a high penalty corner flick into the top right corner.

Head Coach Adam Commens said afterwards, “This has been a really worthwhile series. We’ve learnt a lot about our team and our players. We will need to be more consistent if we want to climb up the world rankings over the coming months in the lead up to the World League.”

Of the match, Commens added: “We created more than enough chances in the first 15 minutes but Korea is the type of team that you can’t afford to get behind. We showed yesterday we have the ability to score goals but today we struggled. We’re looking for more consistency up front and some more leadership and authority in defence, although we’re still missing Jodie Schultz, Jayde Taylor and Kobie McGurk from our London 2012 Olympic defence.”

Jade Close had Australia’s first sight of goal in the opening minutes but her effort was deflected to safety. Moments later the ball hit the back of the Korean goal but with no touch inside the circle the match remained 0-0. Karri McMahon then saw her first penalty corner effort blocked only for Close to send a tomahawk shot wide of the far post.

At the other end, Toni Cronk pulled off an important block from Cheon Seul Ki but the forward was not to be denied a minute later when she flicked low across goal from Korea’s second penalty corner. Park doubled the lead in the 20th minute before McMahon stepped up to fire home her first senior international goal. Madonna Blyth and Flanagan, with her effort against the post, also came close to equalising before the break.

Despite conceding the third goal Australia looked in control for much of the second half but with the Korean defence sitting deep, clear cut chances were limited to a couple of shots well saved. Flanagan saw another flick saved by the Korean substitute goalkeeper Jung Hea Bin, who tipped the ball over the bar with her stick, while Kellie White’s shot on the turn was kicked to safety.

Acclaiming Georgia Nanscawen’s remarkable journey to 100 caps, Commens added: “It’s an outstanding effort. She’s an incredible talent who continues to grow. She was one of our best players throughout the series, very consistent in these four games. She gave us a real target to aim for up front.”

Nanscawen made her debut aged 17 against South Africa on 28 May 2009. At 20 years and 336 days old she became the youngest Hockeyroos player to reach the 100 match milestone. The previous youngest 100-cap Hockeyroo was Karen Smith, who reached the century in 2000 aged 21.

Next week, it’s the turn of the Kookaburras as Australia’s men take on Korea in four matches at Perth Hockey Stadium. The series begins on Friday, 3 May, at 7:00pm WST. All four matches will be live streamed on the Hockey Australia website at www.hockey.org.au.

Earlier:

Australia’s Hockeyroos turned on the style in a devastating second half performance as they bounced back from Thursday’s defeat at the hand of Korea to win 6-0 on Saturday.

Emily Smith (NSW) netted the crucial opener with just four seconds of the first half remaining but it was the five goals in the second half that truly caught the eye with captain Madonna Blyth’s (QLD) incredible cheeky chip the highlight.

Western Australian Institute of Sport athlete Ashleigh Nelson made it 2-0 five minutes after half time as she converted from close range at the second attempt – the Korean goalkeeper Lee initially blocking Nelson after a well-placed cross from Karri McMahon.

The visitors failed to capitalise on a number of opportunities to pull a goal back before Smith netted her second to make it 3-0. After beating two defenders down the right hand side, Georgia Nanscawen found Smith perfectly placed at the back post and the forward converted clinically.

Then began the goal rush. Blyth swept home to make it 4-0 at a penalty corner two minutes later, followed quickly by Claire Messent’s (VIC) strike for 5-0. But it was Blyth’s second goal that had the fans on their feet. Lying on the floor, she contorted to release a looping shot that dipped over the goalkeeper into the far corner of the net to complete Australia’s afternoon.

Head Coach Adam Commens called it “a really pleasing performance.” Adding, “It was good that the team addressed the issues that we’ve discussed in the two days since the disappointing loss on Thursday. We learnt a lot but the challenge will be to improve on today in game four tomorrow.”

New South Wales youngster Mariah Williams became the fourth Hockeyroo to debut in the series. Williams, 17, came off the bench and after good interplay with Georgie Parker, was involved in the award of Australia’s first penalty corner.

It was far from one way traffic, however, and the Hockeyroos were grateful to the goalkeeping of Toni Cronk in the first half. The experienced double Olympian did well to force Park Mi Hyun wide after the Korean captain broke through and performed her duties well to save from Cho Yun Kyoung soon after. On the one occasion it looked as though Cronk would be beaten by Park, a late intervention from Teneal Attard put the Korean forward off her shot.

Prior to Smith’s well-timed opener, Kellie White saw her early effort flash across goal while Ashleigh Nelson was thwarted by goalkeeper Lee Sin Hye at close range after turning a pass towards goal at the near post.

– Hockey Australia