AUCKLAND, New Zealand – March 8, 2019 – Following a delay because of weather, the No. 12 U.S. Women’s National Team took to the turf at the North Harbour Hockey Stadium in Auckland, New Zealand on the hunt to add positive points in the FIH Pro League standings. Scoreless after the first quarter, No. 6 New Zealand converted twice in the second and once in the third as USA translated on one of their seven penalty corners, but the Black Sticks took the match 3-1.
Following the opening whistle, USA immediately turned possession over which led to New Zealand’s circle penetration that fell to a wide-open goal but was cleared away by Ali Froede (Burke, Va.). Two more close chances came for the Black Sticks before USA goalkeeper Kealsie Robles (Yorktown, Va.) registered her first save on a shot from Olivia Merry. That was quickly followed by an attempt from Kathleen Sharkey (Moosic, Pa.) who was met by Black Stick goalkeeper Grace O’Hanlon. In the 11th minute, Sharkey found Mackenzie Allessie (Mount Joy, Pa.) up field who earned USA their first penalty corner. The straight shot by Sharkey was stopped by O’Hanlon and the clear fell right to Caitlin Van Sickle (Wilmington, Del.) who was unable to finish after being pressure by two Black Stick defenders. Before the end of the quarter, Allessie single handedly earned two penalty corners but USA was unable to convert as the quarter finished deadlocked at zeroes.
The second frame started with shared possession before the host nation found the back of the goal in the 19th minute. A great combination give-and-go between Katie Doar and Stacey Michelsen was finished on a tip in from Merry to give the Black Sticks a 1-0 advantage. USA continued to threaten, and a close chance came three minutes later after Allessie weaved into the circle, got a backhand sweep off that went over a sliding goalkeeper O’Hanlon to hit the cross bar but was saved on the goal line by the upright stick of Brooke Neal. New Zealand started to connect more up field possession passes and in the 25th minute a hard ball into the circle from Merry was deflected into the goal by Kirsten Pearce to put the Black Sticks up 2-0. USA’s fourth penalty corner was earned in the final minutes of the quarter but the red, white and blue again were unable to convert.
The start of the third quarter saw USA’s defense tested more with high pressuring and quick Black Stick strikers. The combined effort of defenders Alyssa Manley (Lititz, Pa.) and Julia Young (Yorktown, Va.) kept New Zealand at bay but not before the hosts earned their first penalty corner in the 34th minute. A textbook deflection conversion off the stick of Ella Gunson extended New Zealand’s lead to 3-0. Although they were trailing, USA didn’t reduce their effort and continued to fight as Sharkey earned their fifth penalty corner with no result. The Blacks sticks almost tallied another when a powerful backhand shot from Merry cracked off the cross bar.
Determined to add a goal to the scoreboard, USA produced some great connections up field and earned their sixth penalty corner five minutes into the fourth quarter. A well-executed option saw Froede sweep it down to the far post where Danielle Grega (Kingston, Pa.) deflect it in and add one back to make it 3-1. The final minutes saw USA have a few more circle penetrations and a final penalty corner of the match but they were unable to make the most of their scoring opportunities as they fell to the Black Sticks.
“I think we had some key opportunities that were really looking good for us at the beginning of the game and we had to capitalize on them," said Sharkey, in the post-game interview. "I think we learned some valuable lessons that when we are down at their end attacking we need to be switch on in defense because they are really good on the counter attack. I think we were able to create a lot of opportunities, but need to keep working on being able to put the ball over the line.”
Following the game, New Zealand’s Brooke Neal earned Player of the Match for her workhorse effort on defense.
The U.S. Women’s National Team will head back to the United States where they will welcome two teams to Spooky Nook Sports in Lancaster, Pa. at the end of the month. In their fifth FIH Pro League game they will play No. 13 Belgium on Friday, March 29 and in their sixth contest they will face No. 2 Great Britain on Sunday, March 31. Tickets for these games are available and can be purchased by clicking here. #FIHProLeague
