The Australian women’s hockey team has stormed through to the final of the Australian Youth Olympic Festival after defeating China 4-0 at Sydney Olympic Park. In the extremely hot conditions the Aussies came out on top joining the men’s team undefeated in the race for gold.
In a match not dissimilar to their male counterparts it looked like it would be nil all at half-time until 18-year-old Rachel Miller took a shot at goal in the 35th minute to take a 1-0 lead.
Goalkeeper Carla Hunter felt, at half time, the mood was “calm and composed, we try to keep it that way,” she said. “We just reiterated what we needed to work on and the girls just went out there and knew what they had to put in play to get past them.”
After half time Hunter said the team will often get back on the field and kick on, “it’s just us” she said. “Maybe at half time we decide, ah, ok only 35 minutes to go,” she said.
Back on the turf that is exactly what they did. The Australians started to take control. Eloise Duay, 20, and Ashleigh Nelson, 19, put away a goal each for a 3-0 lead and then as the horn was about to go marking the end of the match, talented Samantha Gale stole an extra goal for Australia.
“I thought we played very well, the team held us together especially in the heat,” said Hunter. “It was very strenuous on the girls because we haven’t had this heat all week and when we where struggling out there the girls would pick up and help each other through it.”
The final game of the round-robin phase takes place this afternoon with New Zealand playing Great Britain. The Kiwis will have to win by five goals to assume a spot in the final against Australia.
“It’s a close competition, its been close all week and basically whoever we come up against we’ll be ready for!” Hunter said.
She did admit she was most concerned about facing the Europeans in the finals.
“Great Britain are more of a threat because they’ve come through and they seem to have come out on top over the other two teams as well, so they have the closest match to us” she said.
While Miller names beating Great Britain as her greatest moment in the tournament so far she said, despite who they play, “it’ll be a hard game and however wins will deserve to win it.”
Rebecca Sleeman
AYOF
