Slattery Scores First International Goal in Hockeyroos’ Win

Emily Smith’s goal just 30 seconds from full time helped the Hockeyroos to a 3-2 win over rivals New Zealand in Wellington last Sunday as WAIS athlete Kathryn Slattery scored her first international goal for Australia.

It was Smith’s second of the match in her 101st appearance for Australia, sandwiching Slattery’s strike as the Hockeyroos prepare for the Champions Trophy in Argentina, which begins in two weeks.

A satisfied Hockeyroos coach Adam Commens said afterwards, “Both teams improved from yesterday. I thought New Zealand were better and we tightened up in defence, although New Zealand were still able to create a few clear opportunities.

“As a unit we’re still trying to understand all of our roles but with another game here and two practice games once we get to Argentina there’s time.”

Commenting on Slattery’s first goal for Australia, Commens added, “It’s good for her to get reward for a couple of good games in a row. I’m really pleased with all our debutants. They’ve shown they’re all really capable, although we know the Champions Trophy will be higher quality still.”

Following Saturday’s four debuts, Queenslander goalkeeper Audrey Smith made her first senior appearance for the Hockeyroos in the match.

Both sides had early chances cleared from in front of goal before Smith broke the deadlock shortly before the end of the first quarter, sweeping home high into the roof of the net with a first time shot after good work by Gabrielle Nance down the right.

After a quiet second quarter, the third period began with a flurry of goals. New Zealand’s pacey captain Anita Punt levelled the score just three minutes after the re-start with a well struck shot but less than a minute later Slattery put the Australian women back in front. Good work in the forward line saw the Hockeyroos win possession deep in Kiwi territory and Slattery slid in at the back post to make it 2-1.

Petrea Webster made it 2-2 in the 44th minute with a shot from a narrow angle and although the Black Sticks won a couple of penalty corners early in the fourth quarter it was Australia that dominated proceedings late on. Amelia Spence saw her shot gloved to safety by Georgia Barnett in New Zealand’s goal before Brooke Peris hit the post and Barnett denied Georgia Nanscawen. Jodie Kenny’s penalty corner flick was then tipped over the top before the pressure finally told.

Excellent interplay between Nanascawen and Teneal Attard in the final minute put Nanscawen in behind the New Zealand back line and her dangerous square pass across the face of goal was turned home by Smith on the back post.

Slattery was joined in competition against New Zealand, by fellow WAIS athletes Ashleigh Nelson and Kate Denning.

The two sides meet again in the third and final Test at 5pm AEDT on Tuesday. The match is live streamed via the Hockey New Zealand website at hockeynz.co.nz.

Earlier:

A double penalty corner strike from South Australian Karri McMahon, and what the 22 year-old called “the Australian way”, helped the Hockeyroos hit back from two goals behind to draw 2-2 with rivals the New Zealand Black Sticks in the first of three Tests in Wellington.

Defender McMahon, who had scored just four goals in her previous 52 appearances, struck with a deflection just a minute after the Hockeyroos had fallen 2-0 behind at the start of the second period.

And she bagged her brace with two minutes remaining, flicking a late penalty corner low into the bottom left corner.

The Hockeyroos fielded four debutants – Georgie Morgan, Gabi Nance, Kathryn Slattery and Amelia Spence – and welcomed back Rebecca Reuter and Kate Denning after a period away, along with the experienced Teneal Attard, returning from injury.

Forward Emily Smith celebrated her 100th appearance for the Hockeyroos in the match.

National Coach Adam Commens was pleased with the outcome, saying afterwards, “I thought it was a promising performance for a young and inexperienced team and many of our debutants did well.

“We were a bit loose in the first half but we tidied it up and were the better team in the second half.

“We haven’t played any games together as a unit, although we’ve had some practice games in Perth with the whole Champions Trophy squad, rather than the team, which we’ve brought here.

“Overall, it was a promising performance and one we can build on in the next two games.”

The Hockeyroos found themselves on the back foot early on and were grateful to goalkeeper Ashlee Wells for a series of smart saves, the first from a low penalty corner. Her goal was breached in the sixth minute by Pippa Hayward’s strike but Wells followed up to deny Olivia Merry soon after.

Debutant Kathyrn Slattery created the best moments of hope for the Australian women, first thwarted by Kiwi goalkeeper Sally Rutherford before winning a penalty corner, which Rutherford also kept out from stand-in captain Jodie Kenny.

Two minutes after half time Australia fell further behind as Sophie Cocks struck but McMahon halved he deficit just 60 seconds later with a deflection from a penalty corner at the other end. It was to be the catalyst for the Hockeyroos, who grew in confidence to dominate the third and fourth quarters.

Kenny saw the Black Sticks defence keep out another three penalty corners before McMahon stepped up to slot home late on and seal the draw.

Speaking after the match, McMahon said, “We’ve got a fairly new group. It was a bit of a scrappy match to start with but I think in the end we found our feet and started to play some good hockey.

“It’s always a good contest with the Kiwis. It’s always a very tight game regardless of where we are and what tournament. They had us a bit in the first quarter, we strung a few connections together and played much better in the second half.

“Three minutes to go you know it’s never over until the siren’s over. It’s a bit of the Australian way – fight until it’s over – and it was a good fight back from us.”

-HockeyAus