Blacks Stick women win, men in draw

The Black Sticks women eased to a 3-1 win over the United States in world hockey’s Pro League yesterday, while the men let a twogoal lead slip to draw 3-3 with Spain and lost the shootout for a bonus point.

The women began brightly in the early match at North Harbour Hockey Stadium in Auckland, but had to withstand strong pressure from the Americans later in the period before taking control in the second quarter.

Olivia Merry got the Black Sticks on the board, four minutes into the second spell, poking home after captain Stacey Michelsen combined with Katie Doar on the edge of the D.

Kirsten Pearce doubled the Black Sticks’ lead five minutes before halftime, getting a deft touch on a rocket of a ball in from Merry and sending it past American stopper Kealsie Robles.

Four minutes after the break, it was Ella Gunson who got the Black Sticks their third goal, deflecting Neal’s drag flick at a penalty corner.

The United States pulled one back through Danielle Grega at a penalty corner of their own with just under 10 minutes to play, but couldn’t stop the Black Sticks from getting the win, which moved them past Germany and up to fifth on the ladder.

In the second match of the double-header, the Black Sticks men found themselves trailing Spain inside a minute, as Pau

(Olivia Merry 19’, Kirsten Pearce 25’, Ella Gunson 34’) United States 1 (Danielle Grega 51’).

Black Sticks men 3 (Jared Panchia 22’, Stephen Jenness 34’, Dylan Thomas 38’)

(Pau Quemada 1’, 53’ Marc Miralles

Black Sticks women 3

Spain 3

Quemada sent a shot flying past Richard Joyce in the Kiwi goal.

The Black Sticks drew level midway through the second quarter, when a diving Jared Panchia got a touch on a rocket of a cross from Kane Russell on the right.

Spain had a goal ruled out after a scramble early in the third quarter, allowing the Black Sticks to take the lead in the 34th minute, when Stephen Jenness got on the end of a long ball from Russell and finished sharply.

They extended their advantage four minutes later when Dylan Thomas scored from a narrow angle, his first international goal, but Spain reduced the lead back to one midway through the final quarter, when Marc Miralles struck at a penalty corner.

The equaliser came within a minute, Quemada taking advantage after Black Sticks midfielder Nic Woods got a touch on a cross that meant it fell to him with an open goal to aim at.

Neither side could find a winner in the final seven minutes, and it was Spain who took the extra point on offer for winning the penalty shootout.