NZ goal-scoring record for Merry

Olivia Merry has become the all-time leading goalscorer for the Black Sticks women, netting four times in their win over Belgium yesterday.

Her prolific afternoon at the National Hockey Centre on Auckland’s North Shore ensured the two teams split their pair of fixtures over the weekend.

It also means the Black Sticks are on the board in this year’s FIH Pro League, where they are looking to improve on last year’s sixth-place finish.

Belgium took an early lead when Abi Raye scored a field goal midway through the opening quarter, but there was no further action before the end of the second quarter.

Merry drew the Black Sticks level within a minute of the restart with a field goal, then put them in front from a penalty corner four minutes later.

Another penalty corner goal came with nine minutes to play to give the home team some breathing space, then set a new national record when she added another field goal with five minutes to play.

Merry has now 106 goals for the Black Sticks, pipping Anita McLaren’s mark of 105.

The win would have come as a relief, after the Black Sticks lost 2-1 to Belgium in the first match of the weekend on Saturday, with Gemma McCaw scoring on her return to the black singlet.

The Black Sticks men lost 6-2 to Belgium on Saturday night.

Both teams will face Great Britain in a pair of double-headers back at the National Hockey Centre next weekend before heading south for a series of doubleheader matches in Christchurch at the Nga Puna Wai centre , the women facing USA and Argentina and the men Spain then Argentina.

PHOTOSPORT Black Sticks striker Olivia Merry celebrates scoring a goal on her way to reaching the most goals scored by a New Zealand player at North Shore yesterday. She netted four times in the Black Sticks 4-0 win against Belgium.