Shanea Tonkin scores maiden international goal in her Hockeyroos debut against New Zealand

Published On: 17 May 2022

Recent WAIS graduate Shanea Tonkin scored her first international goal in game three of the Hockeyroos victory in the four-game Trans-Tasman Series.

After a draw and win in the opening two games the closely contested series looked to be going down to the wire. With the Black Sticks taking an early lead in game three with a goal at the six minute mark the pressure was on the Hockeyroos.

Just before the main break Stephanie Kershaw found Mariah Williams with a pass in the attacking circle, the striker hammering a powerful effort off the back foot and Tonkin produced a classy deflection giving O’Hanlon no chance.

Tonkin’s goal the second and final of match producing another draw. A 2-1 victory in the final game earned the Hockeyroos the series lead and a confidence boost heading in to the World Cup and Commonwealth Games later this year.

“It was really special and meant a lot… It has taken me a long time to get to this point,” said an emotional Tonkin after scoring her maiden Hockeyroos goal.

“In every game we have found areas that we need to improve on and I think we have stepped up with each game we have played.”

With a host of inexperienced players in the squad, including four debutantes before the series started, Hockeyroos Head Coach Katrina Powell was delighted the opportunity they had to play at this level.

“I’m really pleased with those who played their first internationals here,” said Powell.

“We also have a bundle who haven’t played many (internationals) at all, so I’m really pleased with what we put out on the pitch this week considering our level of inexperience.”