A largely inexperienced Hockeyroos group that includes 5 debutantes has scored a stirring 4-2 win over India on a memorable evening in Adelaide.
Heading into the opening match of the collection with 13 gamers having 20 worldwide caps or fewer to their identify, the Hockeyroos shocked their extra skilled opponents, all 4 of the house aspect’s targets coming in a 14-minute burst.
Alice Arnott, Alana Kavanagh, Olivia Downes, Aisling Utri and Pippa Morgan turned Hockeyroos cap numbers 518-522 as native South Australian Jane Claxton led the group out in her 219th look.
Arnott and Utri each scored on debut, including to the fun of the win in entrance of a parochial residence.
The Hockeyroos began brightly with some early attacking circle entries earlier than India received the primary penalty nook of the match, flashing the resultant drag flick simply vast.
Teenagers Maddison Brooks and Hannah Cullum-Sanders mixed which led to the latter unleashing a stinging tomahawk from an acute angle that was simply stored out.
The breakthrough got here within the twenty first minute when Kavanagh began a sweetly labored group transfer from inside her personal half. She linked up with Courtney Schonell who launched a flying Abby Wilson down the correct and her looking ball into the circle was met by the instinctive Utri and she or he knocked the ball residence.
The lead was prolonged when Maddison Fitzpatrick transformed a drag flick within the twenty seventh minute earlier than India lowered the deficit by Sangita Kumari simply earlier than half time.
Any hazard of the aim rattling the Hockeyroos cage was quick lived when Claxton obtained an overhead in a threatening place earlier than driving the ball into the circle and Arnott obtained the faintest of touches to put it behind the online.
Three minutes later it was 4-1 when a Maddison Smith overhead unlocked the India defence once more when she discovered Brooks. The Tasmanian produced some elegant ability and stick work to sq. the ball up for Schonell and she or he hammered her tomahawk previous India substitute goalkeeper Devi Kharibam.
Despite the Hockeyroos surge, India refused to lie down and the margin was again at two when Sharmila Devi transformed a effectively labored penalty nook transfer with 20 minutes to go.
A final gasp sort out from Kavanagh thwarted a dashing India counterattack within the final quarter as the Hockeyroos stayed composed.
With six minutes left Arnott watched her shot crash into the submit earlier than substitute goalkeeper Zoe Newman ensured there can be no nervy end as she saved a penalty stroke from Navneet Kaur with three minutes remaining.
“It was my first time playing against India so it was exciting and a really tough game,” stated Schonell, who was named Player of the Match.
“We stuck to our processes and combined well considering we had five debutantes and we haven’t played a lot of hockey together.”
“We know there’s a lot we are able to enhance on nevertheless it’s a good way to begin the collection and we glance ahead to getting on the market once more on Saturday.
Match 2 of the collection is on Saturday at 6.30pm native.
Match Details
Hockeyroos 4 (Utri 21’, Fitzpatrick 27’, Arnott 32’, Schonell 35’)
India 2 (Kumari 29’, Devi 40’)
@ MATE Stadium, Adelaide
Hockeyroos: 10.Maddy Fitzpatrick, 12.Greta Hayes, 13.Hattie Shand, 16.Courtney Schonell, 18.Jane Claxton (c), 19.Jocelyn Bartram (gk), 22.Tatum Stewart, 28.Hannah Cullum-Sanders, 33.Alice Arnott, 35.Maddison Brooks, 37.Morgan Gallagher, 40.Pippa Morgan, 41.Zoe Newman (gk), 42.Maddison Smith, 44.Abby Wilson, 46.Olivia Downes, 49.Alana Kavanagh, 51.Aisling Utri
Hockeyroos v India Series
MATE Stadium, Adelaide
Match 1 – Thursday 18 May 2023 (6.30pm native, 7.00pm AEST)
Match 2 – Saturday 20 May 2023 (6.30pm native, 7.00pm AEST)
Match 3 – Sunday 21 May 2023 (6.00pm native, 6.30pm AEST)
Ticketing particulars: Pre-purchase tickets now
Broadcast: LIVE on FOX Sports 507, Kayo and livestreamed on LIVEHockey and Watch.Hockey
Australia A v India Series
MATE Stadium, Adelaide
Match 1 – Thursday 25 May 2023 (6.30pm native, 7.00pm AEST)
Match 2 – Saturday 27 May 2023 (6.30pm native, 7.00pm AEST)
Ticketing particulars: Entry is FREE however patrons should register for the matches. Register now
Broadcast: Livestreamed on LIVEHockey
