NHA would like to take this opportunity to remind all Schools that Nelson Hockey offers…
FIH PRO LEAGUE- New Zealand put a tough week behind them to produce a solid performance
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The Vantage Black Sticks
Women have put a tough week behind them to put together a
convincing 3-1 win over the United States Women. Olivia Merry and
Olivia Shannon continued their goalscoring form for the New Zealand
side as they helped the Kiwis secure their second win of the FIH
Hockey Pro League.
The two sides walked out onto the
Ngā Puna Wai pitch on a sombre note, following the passing of their
longtime strength and conditioning coach Brad Conza. Once the match
got underway, the Kiwis were playing with some great speed as they
looked to run the United States off the pitch.
In the fourth minute of the
contest, it was the USA which looked to have opened the scoring for
the match when the New Zealand defence was caught napping and left
the USA striker open at the top of the circle. The reverse stick
shot found its way past Grace O’Hanlon. New Zealand managed to
successfully review the shot which would be overturned due to a
back of the stick.
Playing with a renewed confidence
after a tough encounter with Great Britain the previous week.
Eventually, after some significant, sustained pressure the New
Zealand side was able to get themselves onto the scoresheet when
Olivia Merry smashed the ball into the bottom of the goal. This
took Merrys goalscoring total to five for the 2020 FIH Hockey Pro
League.
The start of the second quarter
saw the Kiwis continue to play with some great flow and pace as
they looked to shift the USA defence and open up the passing lanes
in the middle of the field.
The lead was extended in the 22nd
minute when a New Zealand penalty corner came off the crossbar,
Olivia Shannon then jumped on the rebound as she would smash in the
shot to double the Kiwis buffer.
As the second quarter started to
wind down, the Black Sticks took it up another level and went close
on several occasions as they looked to put the USA significantly on
the backfoot. Despite the weight of possession favouring the Kiwis,
they were unable to extend their lead before the half.
Needing to put together a clinical
second half the Kiwis started outstandingly when Stacey Michelsen
managed to slice through the USA defence and complete a flick pass
to Rose Keddell. Keddell then reversed the ball into the top of the
goal to put the New Zealand side in a commanding 3-0 lead.
As the contest looked to be
getting away from them the United States, they managed to claw one
goal back after a penalty stroke was awarded due to a hard stick
challenge. Ali Campbell roofed her flick into the top of the net as
the USA looked to battle themselves back into the contest.
The match seemed to run out of steam
in the final quarter as neither side was able to construct any
significant chances as the score would remain the same which would
see the Black Sticks take out a 3-1 win.
The teams will now turn their attention to tomorrow when they will battle for the second time this weekend from Ngā Puna Wai. Vantage Black Sticks 3 (Olivia Merry 13 min, Olivia Shannon 22 min, Rose Keddell 33 min) USA 1 (Ali Campbell 44 min) |
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