Australian Capital Territory win maiden fixture in U-21 Australian National Hockey Championship
In an unprecedented move, the women’s hockey team of Australian Capital Territory (ACT) marked a 3-2 triumph over South Australia in the Day-9 fixture of the U-21 National Hockey Championship being held at the National Hockey Centre in Australian city of
Canberra on July 20, 2011.
The ACT opened the fixture and enhanced their coordination between the defence and the offence. It was the missing thing in the last six games, where they faced defeats.
On the other side, the Southern squad had a better track record as compared to their rival, ACT. It won two games out of six, while lost in the other four.
Though both the ACT and SA began the crucial fixture at fast speed, it was the latter's line-up that scored the first goal of the game and established their early dominance on the field.
After showing some lacklustre points, the SA created an opportunity and obtained the first penalty-corner of the game. Amy Watters scored off the short-corner and established their grip over the game. Neither ACT succeeded to get an equalising goal nor SA
doubled the tally in the remaining time of the first half, which completed with former one leading the score at 1-0.
The ACT strikers cranked up their offence in the second round with improved game-strategy and showed brilliant passing. Their team-work paid off in the 45thminute of the match, when they received a short-corner. Naomi Evans redirected a penalty-corner
shot into the SA's goal and equalled the score at 1-1.
After making the results even, the ACT's players moved forward in fastest way and started attacks in search of a go-ahead goal. The strikers from the ACT exhibited prolific passing in the second half which served them in the forms of goals. Rebecca Lee received
a timely pass from Jenna Cartwright and chipped in the ball into the backboard. It was the goal that further added pressure on the Southern players and they became defensive.
On the other hand, the custodian of ACT, Peta Sutherland, and defender, Kate Gilmore, were the real architects of the victory, as they denied plenty of strikes. With two minutes remaining, Steph Kindon scored a goal from the field and stretched the lead
up to two goals. Though Karri McMahon of SA scored a goal in the second last minute, it could not save them from a loss. The ACT won the first game of the championship at 3-2.
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