Last Gasp Draw Seals Hockeyroos Series Win
Yet again the Hockeyroos struck late to secure a result against the New Zealand Black Sticks on Tuesday as WAIS athlete Ashleigh Nelson netted with just 20 seconds remaining to earn a 3-3 draw and with it seal a 1-0 series win.
As they had on Saturday, the Australian women found themselves two goals behind but rallied to level for two-all at the half time break as first Jodie Kenny and then Kathryn Slattery struck to cancel out goals from Stacey Michelsen and Olivia Merry.
When Michelsen broke through with ten minutes remaining, roofing her shot into the top corner, it looked as if the Hockeyroos might be destined for defeat but Emily Smith’s deflected cross was coolly batted home at waist height by Nelson in the dying seconds.
While the Hockeyroos might have paid the price for some defensive lapses, Assistant Coach Jason Duff said the team’s commitment to the end is what earned the result.
Speaking afterwards, Duff said, “We didn’t start well. New Zealand came out ready to play and we conceded early. Then we conceded again. We gave up too many opportunities throughout which is something we need to work on but we made up for it with a bit of endeavour. It’s good for the girls to see they can play right to the end. It’s a good sign can we stay the distance and get something out of it.”
As the Hockeyroos prepare to head to Argentina on Wednesday for the Champions Trophy, Duff said the series and the opportunity to blood some exciting new talent had been a success.
“Both teams have given opportunities to younger players in the series. Our younger players have stepped up and performed very well. It’s been a fantastic series that has allowed us to look at our structure and shape and work on some things going into the Champions Trophy.”
Michelsen’s third minute opener came as a result of a melee in the Australian circle as Australia looked to get up to the tempo of their hosts. Despite the Kiwis losing three players to green and yellow cards in a matter of minutes, the Hockeyroos were unable to capitalise from a brace of penalty corners in the opening quarter.
Failure to clear the ball from defence saw the Hockeyroos concede again soon after the restart with Olivia Merry deflecting a pass from the left hand side beyond Ashlee Wells in the Australian goal. Six minutes later a powerful low penalty corner flick from Kenny nestled in the bottom corner, halving the deficit, before Slattery deflected home in front of the near post from a cross from the right.
The game opened up in the second half with both sides earning but failing to convert penalty corners before Michelsen broke clear to rifle the Black Sticks back in front. But as in both previous matches the Hockeyroos refused to accept the score and continued to look for an opening. It came with just 20 seconds remaining as Amelia Spence burst forward from midfield, finding Emily Smith on the right whose cross was deflected off a New Zealand defender’s stick into the ground and up into the path of Nelson waiting at the back post.
Australia’s women depart for the Champions Trophy in Argentina on Wednesday with Europe-based Anna Flanagan and Casey Sablowski set to join up with the Hockeyroos in Mendoza having not returned for the New Zealand series. They replace Kate Denning and Georgie Morgan from the series. The Hockeyroos’ Champions Trophy campaign begins against Commonwealth Games silver medallists England. Matches against Argentina and Germany follow.
-HockeyAus
