Hockeyroos Secure Rio Ticket with Win Over the Kiwis

Emily Smith’s 50th international goal and a devastating opening quarter set the Hockeyroos on course to a 4-2 victory over New Zealand to win the bronze medal at the Hockey World League in Antwerp.

The result also officially confirmed the Australian women’s qualification for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro and their place at the World League Finals in Argentina later in the year.

Smith’s goal in the third minute and Jane Claxton’s volley just 60 seconds later set the tone for the victory, with Mariah Williams’ goal at the end of the first quarter earning the Hockeyroos a three goal lead at the first break.

New Zealander Stacey Michelsen pulled one back shortly after half time as the Black Sticks fought for a foothold in the contest but when Georgia Nanscawen made it 4-1 in the dying seconds of the third period it seemed the eventual outcome was assured.

It might have been more but WAIS athlete Kathryn Slattery could only watch as her effort was desperately cleared from the goal line after a chip over the goalkeeper. The West Australian was also unfortunate to see a shot rebound off the post.

Anita Punt pulled one back for the Black Sticks with a pin-point penalty corner ten minutes from time but it was Kiwi goalkeeper Sally Rutherford who was the busier in the latter stages, denying Jodie Kenny and WAIS athlete Ashleigh Nelson.

The Netherlands picked up the gold medal with a late comeback against Korea to win 2-1 while Hockeyroos defender Jodie Kenny was named the tournament’s top goal scorer with ten goals.

Coach Adam Commens got the response he wanted following Thursday night’s defeat to the Netherlands but cautioned that the result doesn’t eradicate the memories of their two defeats at the tournament.

He said, “We’ve been threatening to do that for a while against the New Zealand team. They’re a really high class side and I thought today we executed our game plan well and were able to finish in the attacking circle. It’s probably the first time we’ve done it in this tournament so really pleasing.

“We can’t forget what happened in the semi-final and indeed the round game against New Zealand. We need to be better than we’ve been at this tournament. We’ll be really fired up and working hard over the next 12 months to ensure that we are.

Of his side’s lightning quick start, Commens said, “That set the platform and then New Zealand are chasing.

“I thought they did a pretty good job at getting back into the game and creating opportunities to score more than their two goals but at the other end we created more than enough to go five or six.

“That part of our game certainly needs to improve and it’s something that we’ll be sitting together as a group – not only the coaches but also the players – to work out how we go about improving that area of our game.”

With Olympic qualification assured more than a year out from the Games, Commens believes the next 12 months will determine who stands on top of the medal podium in Brazil.

“I’ve always said that I think that the medals are won in an Olympic Games in the 12 months before, so in 2015 you really set yourself a good platform and then you just want to do those fine details in the last three to four months leading into the Olympic Games.

“Now teams have qualified it’s the team that takes the biggest step over this next 12 months and if we can take the biggest step we can close the gap between us and the Dutch and put a gap on some of our opponents.”

A smart block by goalkeeper Ashlee Wells on Kirsten Pearce in just the second minute of the match provided the platform for a Hockeyroos side determined to play with pace and decisiveness from the off.

As the Hockeyroos broke upfield moments later, good work down the left hand side saw Karri McMahon find Kathryn Slattery who beat her opponent to the ball inside the New Zealand circle. The resulting loose ball spun into the path of Emily Smith who reacted well to divert it home for the opening goal.

A minute later it was 2-0. Georgia Nanscawen’s surging run along the right baseline set up Ashleigh Nelson for a slap shot, which Kiwi goalkeeper Sally Rutherford parried only as far as South Australia’s Jane Claxton. Claxton’s chest-high volley flew back past Rutherford into the roof of the net and the Hockeyroos were two up inside four minutes.

In the dying seconds of the first quarter Mariah Williams bagged the third goal of her fledgling international career, scoring at the second attempt after Rutherford had blocked her initial effort from close range.

The Hockeyroos found themselves pressed deeper by New Zealand in the second period but defended the circle well. When the Black Sticks did find a way through, goalkeeper Wells was resolute behind her back line.

Early in the third period, the pressure told. Stacey Michelsen found the space to run at the Hockeyroos defence before slotting home to reduce the deficit to 3-1.

Then, with fewer than ten seconds of the third period remaining, Eddie Bone’s aerial pass out of defence was superbly controlled by Madonna Blyth on the right of midfield. The Hockeyroos captain controlled the pass before turning inside and playing in Georgia Nanscawen who fired low inside the right post from the top of the circle.

While Anita Punt pulled another goal back for the Black Sticks with a penalty corner flick that found the top right corner, it was the Hockeyroos that enjoyed the best of the late opportunities.

Goal scorer Emily Smith said after the match,”It was very exciting. Obviously this tournament hasn’t quite gone to plan for the strike line.

“It was good that game to get a couple of field goals, get our confidence up and, yeah, it was really exciting that we got on top of them early and set the tone right from the start.

“We really had that desire to come out and prove that game against the Dutch was a one-off. It wasn’t going to define us and we have the character and the strength to bounce back from anything”.

Despite not scoring against New Zealand, Queensland defender Jodie Kenny topped the goal scoring charts with ten goals, one ahead of Dutch captain Maartje Paumen.

Anna Flanagan made her 150th appearance for the Hockeyroos in the match with the team donning black armbands to honour the memory of Adelaide Crows coach Phil Walsh.

– HockeyAus