Shootout Sticks get gold shot
Finally, the women’s Black Sticks win a penalty shootout. And what a time to do it.
Black Sticks captain Stacey Michelsen, Samantha Harrison and goalkeeper Grace O'Hanlon, with a heroic effort, proved match winners as New Zealand snuck past England in their Commonwealth Games semifinal here last night to progress to contest gold.
Night-mares must have been flooding back for the Black Sticks. Penalty shootouts are not their thing at major events. Four years ago in Glasgow, the Black Sticks lost a penalty shootout against England at this same stage after being locked 1-1 at fulltime.
Two years earlier it was a similar story, the Black Sticks losing a shootout to the Netherlands in the semifinal of the 2012 London Olympics.
Not this time. They refused to let history and heartbreak repeat.
After being locked 0-0 at fulltime, O'Hanlon saved four attempts allowing Samantha Harrison and Michelson to step up and send the Black Sticks through.
Unlike any of those before her, Michelsen took the ball and charged dead straight with determination, flicking the ball over English keeper Madeleine Hinch with clutch precision.
This was a leader stepping up when she was needed most.