The Australian Stingers have suffered a dramatic penalty shootout defeat at the hands of the USA in the final of the FINA World League Intercontinental Cup in New Zealand following an 8-8 draw.
Australian captain Rowie Webster had made the most of an opportunity in the final 20 seconds of the game to equalise the score with the USA and send the match to penalties, after the Stingers had trailed by two goals earlier in the encounter.
Despite missing gold by the smallest of margins, the Stingers had stayed within reach of the USA after the odds had been stacked against them early in the second half, when centre forward Gemma Beadsworth (WAIS) was benched after incurring three personal fouls.
The exclusion of Beadsworth compounded Australia’s woes in attack, her exit following the earlier loss of fellow centre forward Holly Lincoln-Smith, who had sustained a shoulder injury during the second quarter.
Exemplifying the ability to adapt their game plan on the run, the Stingers looked to Webster and young Queenslander Bronte Colenso to fill the centre forward position, as they continued their relentless attack on the USA’s lead.
The Stingers had led early in the game when Sydney’s Hannah Buckling converted a cross pass to put Australia into the lead during the opening minutes. The USA however, found a way to equalise at three goals apiece by the end of the first quarter, and again at the end of the second, with the score 5-5 at half time.
A run of four consecutive goals from the end of the second term to the beginning of the third handed the USA the lead, which they wouldn’t relinquish until Webster equalised the scores at 8-8 in the dying seconds of the game.
With a grandstand finish on the cards, up-and-coming Western Australian Institute of Sport goalkeeper Lilian Hedges guarded the cage for Australia during the shootout, following a strong second half performance for the Stingers.
In what came down to a contest of accuracy in front of goals, it was the USA who prevailed, the win reversing the result of the gold medal game at the corresponding event 12 months ago in Riverside, California.
The Stingers’ attention will now turn to the FINA World League Super Final to be held from June 9-14 in Shanghai, China, where they hope to improve on their bronze medal winning effort from 2014.
WAIS athlete Zoe Arancini also featured for the Australians throughout the Intercontinental Cup tournament.
-WaterPoloAus
