Australia triumphant over Argentina at Women 4 Nation’s Hockey Tournament: Hockey News
The Australian Women Hockey team defeated the World Champions, Argentina in the Four Nation women hockey tournament with a 3-2 victory in the finals at Mendoza on February 13. The tournament had taken place from February 9-13 among the four nations Germany,
USA, Argentina and Australia among which the host team and the World Number One made it into the final round.
This was the first huge win for the Australian Women Team under their new coach, Adam Commens. Moreover, it is quite a surprise that the squad had almost seven new players to ever play an International hockey match.
The match was a tough fight, where Australian outfit were on the trail by one goal at 1-2. However, with just one minute on the clock an Australian newcomer, Jodie Schulz, shot the penalty-corner for a tie, which had lead the match to an extra time. She
not just levelled the match, but was the hero for the day when she scored another penalty-corner that was given in the first minute of the extra time.
After drawing the match with Argentina on February 13 with a 1-1, the new players of the Australian team were confident on the pitch for a face-off with the World champions in the finals.
The first goal of the match was inaugurated by the Australian girl, Ashleigh Nelson, after a smart drill played with her fellow Australian, Casey Eastham, within the first ten minutes of the first half.
Argentina gave a hard time on the field trying to overcome the Australian lead, but failed to do so until the half time was called. Despite three penalty corner opportunities, Argentina made no score and the Australian goal-keeper, Rachael Lynch, continued
to hold them well from doing so.
In the early second half, Australia attempted to double their score taking the lead when Marnie Hudson hit from the right but it was called off by the umpire and score remained 1-0. In the next minute, Argentina also attempted a goal in penalty-corner that,
fortunate for Australia, was disallowed by the umpire as a valid score.
Later, the second half started to work in favour for the world champs and it became quite possible for them to equalise the score. Finally, in the 46th minute penalty corner shot by Lynch was made that was saved but in no time it was rebound by
Delfina Merino and the game was tied.
With 20 minutes on the clock, the pace of the game was in no mood to slow down when Australia kept the pressure in the Argentinean circle. However, Argentina made it to a lead of one goal hit with only 12 minutes remaining for the second half.
The final comeback of the Australian team took place in the last minute of the match when a penalty corner was awarded to them that got well executed by Jodie Schulz to a draw at 2-2 score.
Then later within one minute of the extra time, the same striker hit the goal for the title win and Argentina lost its chance for a second Champion title in a row.
Commens expressed his happiness for the victory, but stressed that still a lot of work is to be done for the 2012 London Olympics.
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