Hockeyroos Make Winning Start
The Hockeyroos took a big step towards regaining its Champions Trophy status, with a 4-1 opening victory against Belgium at the Champions Challenge in Ireland.
Australia is the clear favorite for the tournament as the seventh-ranked team in the FIH World Ranking and after earning a solid fifth-place finish at the Olympics. The Hockeyroos lived up to their billing with a decisive win over 14thranked Belgians.
Australia built a two-goal lead in a six-minute span after Jodie Schulz and Casey Eastham got things rolling for the Hockeyroos 20 minutes into action. Schulz easily scored on a penalty corner chance and Eastham followed up with a field goal.
Anna Flannagan needed just two minutes of the second half to extend Australia’s lead to three goals with a penalty corner goal. The Aussies dominated the action for much of the half, and only had one letdown when they gave Belgium a short corner chance which Emilie Sinia converted to spoil the shutout. The goal did little to alter the result as Australian captain Madonna Blythe restored the three-goal lead with just over two minutes left in the game to bring the final to 4-1.
Australia next plays India, with a match against Wales completing its group phase schedule ahead of finals
WAIS-AIS athletes Kobie McGurk and Fiona Boyce are I the Hockeyroos squad for the Champions Challenge campaign.
