Hockeyroos stage comeback to win bronze at 2022 Women’s FIH Hockey World Cup

The Hockeyroos including WAIS graduates Karri Somerville, Penny Squibb and Aleisha Power have staged a thrilling come from behind victory to claim bronze over Germany at the 2022 Women’s FIH Hockey World Cup in Terrassa, Spain.

After cruising through the pool rounds 3-0, Australia dispatched Spain in the quarterfinal, before losing a heartbreaking semifinal to world number one team, the Netherlands.

Having to put aside the disappointing of a semifinal loss, 24 hours earlier, the Hockeyroos went a goal down 14 minutes in to the bronze medal match.

The score remained the same over the next two quarter, with Germany taking a slim one goal lead in to the final quarter.

Momentum was with the Hockeyroos and the pressure paid off with Stephanie Kershaw finding the back of the net to level the scores. Seven minutes later, Kershaw added another to give Australia the lead for the first time. Germany was unable to equal the score and as the final buzzer went the Hockeyroos returned to the podium for the first time since 2014, having lost the 2018 bronze medal game to Spain.

Hockeyroos Captain Jane Claxton said, “We know we are a fit team and that towards the back end of the game we can still be playing our best hockey, and we had confidence in that today,” said Jane Claxton post match.

“Out of this tournament we can’t doubt ourselves…we have a young team but also have some experience, so we can move onto future tournaments with more confidence of what we can achieve.”

The Hockeyroos now turn their attention to the 2022 Commonwealth Games, with Shanea Tonkin and Georgia Wilson joining the team.