Black Sticks let advantage slip
The Black Sticks women conceded two goals in two minutes to squander a first win over Australia since 2019.
Australia’s fourth quarter fightback helped them earn a 2-2 draw in the first of the four-game trans-Tasman series at Auckland’s National Hockey Centre last night.
Led by some outstanding goalkeeping from Grace O’Hanlon, who kept Australia at bay in the first three quarters, New Zealand held a 2-0 advantage early in the final term.
Australia are among the best sides in the world for a reason and netted twice within a two-minute span to start the fourth quarter and break Black Sticks’ hearts.
New Zealand were left to rue what might have been, impressing for three quarters and frustrating Australia on defence, who struggled to convert from their penalty corners.
It would have been an overdue win for the Black Sticks women, who hadn’t beaten Australia since September 2019.
Australia and New Zealand met seven times last year with the Hockeyroos winning three games and four matches drawn.
Auckland striker Rose Tynan enjoyed a dream debut, scoring New Zealand’s opening goal at the start of the second quarter from their first penalty corner.
Megan Hull fired the ball towards the goal with Tynan reacting quickly, tapping in the rebound.
After failing to capitalise on some promising first half chances, Australia would have spoken about being more ruthless in front of goal in the second half.
They had a wonderful chance in the third quarter with Black Sticks’ captain Olivia Merry off the field for a green card (two minutes), but sent their drag flick wide from the penalty corner.
Australia couldn’t capitalise from three penalty corners within a matter of minutes and New Zealand made them pay.
Stephanie Dickins sent a perfect long pass to Olivia Shannon on the breakaway, who struck past Jocelyn Bartram to give the hosts a 2-0 advantage.
Australia set up a tense finish, finally scoring early in the final quarter with their seventh penalty corner of the match. Maddy Fitzpatrick delivered a textbook drag flick to get the Hockeyroos on the board.
They made it two goals in two minutes with Mariah Williams connecting from the penalty stroke to level the score at 2-2 and set up a grandstand finish.
Both sides were playing their first international in nine months since last year’s Tokyo Olympics, where they were bundled out in the quarterfinals.
It marks the start of a busy stretch for the trans-Tasman rivals ahead of July’s Women’s World Cup, which will be followed by the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
The second game in the fourmatch series is tomorrow. All four games are being played at the National Hockey Centre in Auckland.