Hockeyroos Maintain Top Spot in Pool B

The Hockeyroos remain top of Pool B at the women’s Champions Trophy after a 1-1 draw with hosts and defending champions Argentina in Mendoza.

Emily Smith’s well taken goal out of nothing shortly before half time put the world number two Australians ahead at the break, but eight-times World Player of the Year Luciana Aymar levelled with eight minutes remaining to deny the Hockeyroos all three points.

In a thoroughly absorbing contest, both sides had chances to win it late on. With five minutes remaining, Jodie Kenny was denied by an outstanding leg save from Argentina goalkeeper Belen Succi while at the other end, Kenny was also on hand to clear a last minute penalty corner from in front of goal.

Hockeyroos coach Adam Commens called it “a really promising performance by our young team against the world’s number three side in front of their home crowd.

“It was a really exciting, entertaining match. I thought both teams played well and for us everyone contributed, which is what I’d asked for after the England game. I was pleased with our defence. [Assistant Coach] Jason Duff looks after our penalty corners and he did a good job scouting them, which the players executed well.”

Looking forward to Australia’s final Pool B match against Germany, Commens added, “Our destiny is in our own hands. It’s important to go all out for the win to finish as high as we can in the pool and give ourselves the best chance in the cross-over quarter finals.”

Showing nine changes from the team that won the Commonwealth Games in August, the Hockeyroos took the game to the world number three Las Leonas in the early stages but it was the hosts that came closest to breaking the deadlock. Shortly after the start of the second quarter, Carla Rebecchi’s slap shot rebounded back off Ashlee Wells’ right post and out of the danger area.

The Hockeyroos then weathered a series of three Argentinean penalty corners before Smith struck against the run of play. Georgia Nanscawen did well to intercept a clearance out of the Argentina defence, immediately playing in Kathryn Slattery on the edge of the circle.

Slattery’s skill helped her evade a defender before slipping it to Smith whose low first time reverse shot caught Succi by surprise, silencing the boisterous home crowd.

Despite a goalless third quarter, Aymar threatened with a shot across the face and Australia’s Anna Flanagan put a penalty corner narrowly over the top. Kirstin Dwyer stayed calm as she then cleared a goal-bound shot with the Hockeyroos’ defence looking beaten.

Australia survived another penalty corner through good work from Ashlee Wells and Jodie Kenny but the pressure told with eight minutes remaining when Aymar struck at the second time of asking. A clever move around the back of the Hockeyroos defence found the one they call ‘La Maga’ (The Magician) and with Flanagan in close attendance she squeezed the ball inside the near post for 1-1.

The Hockeyroos showed their determination to push for a winner with Slattery testing Succi with a fierce strike before Kenny’s powerful penalty corner effort was saved.

It was the fourth match of the day that had finished 1-1 in Mendoza following draws between New Zealand and the Netherlands, Japan and China, and England and Germany. The result keeps the Hockeyroos top of Pool B, ahead of Argentina on goal difference and three points clear of England and Germany.

Tasmanian Amelia Spence missed the match with a hamstring injury.

WAIS athletes Ashleigh Nelson and Kathryn Slattery are members of the Hockeyroos squad in Argentina.

Australia’s women face Germany in their final pool match at 3am AEDT (2am AEST / midnight AWST) on Wednesday 3 December. Their final position in Pool B will determine their opponent in Friday morning’s quarter final, which will be against one of the teams from Pool A.

The match is live on ABC in AEDT states and on delay at 3am local time in all other states. Viewers in those delayed states can also watch live via YouTube.com/fihockey.

Earlier:

The Hockeyroos’ Champions Trophy campaign is up and running after Jodie Kenny’s penalty corner double earned Australia’s women a 2-1 win over England in Mendoza.

Australia came out of the blocks quickly and were ahead after just six minutes through Kenny’s drag flick, which found the back of the net via a slight deflection. However, England, runners-up to the Hockeyroos at the Commonwealth Games in August, equalised five minutes into the third quarter through Ellie Watton, who scored from the edge of the circle after finding herself in behind the Australian back line.

But just as in Glasgow, it was Kenny to the rescue as she struck again – this time five minutes from full time – with a perfectly placed low penalty corner.

Hockeyroos Head Coach Adam Commens said, “It was important to get the win. England are an improving team, they played an aggressive style and competed hard for every ball. They made it difficult for us so to get the result when we played to a level that’s less than we’re capable of is satisfying.

“I was disappointed with our play in the first quarter. I didn’t think we had contributors right across the group but in the final quarter, at 1-1, I thought we deserved to get the win.”

Looking ahead to match two, against the hosts and defending champions Argentina, Commens said, “Playing against Argentina in Argentina is a fantastic experience. It will be a sell-out crowd and a good experience for our young players who are finding out about what it’s like playing at this level. I know they’ve got the talent but we’ll need them to step up.”

The match was somewhat overshadowed by an injury to England captain Alex Danson, who after an accidental collision with Anna Flanagan that left her looking dazed, was treated on the floor of the team benches before being taken to hospital in an ambulance.

Young South Australian Gabi Nance had an opportunity to add to Kenny’s early goal but found herself thwarted by England goalkeeper Kirsty Mackay, who was out quickly to block. At the other end, Australian goalkeeper Ashlee Wells dealt comfortably with England’s first corner.

Brooke Peris also saw an effort stopped by Mackay and the Hockeyroos passed up three penalty corners before Watton levelled with a miscued shot that snuck through the legs of Wells and rolled into the goal.

Australia’s women survived the opening five minutes of the final quarter a player down after Eddie Bone was yellow carded but after weathering the period, stepped up a gear and looked the more likely to steal a winner. Five minutes from time, it was Kenny again who delivered with calm precision to seal all three points.

In the other pool, Pool A, World Champions the Netherlands overcame China 2-0 and New Zealand’s Black Sticks women beat Japan 2-1. In the Hockeyroos’ pool, Argentina beat Germany 1-0, a result that means the Hockeyroos lead Pool B after the first round of matches.

-HockeyAus