Hockeyroos leave Hobart on high after Lawton winner
Published Sat 04 Mar 2023
A stunning late strike from Amy Lawton has given the Hockeyroos a 2-1 victory over the USA in their final match of the FIH Pro League ‘mini tournament’ in Hobart.
Just when it appeared the Hockeyroos and USA would be going to another shootout after their encounter earlier in the week finished even at full time, 21-year-old Lawton took matters into her own hands with two minutes left to decide the contest.
The result gives the Hockeyroos two wins from their four matches as the squad heads back to Perth to prepare for a 3-match test series against China later this month.
With both the Hockeyroos and USA players wearing rainbow ribbons in recognition and support of world pride, the Australians’ attacking prowess was evident from the get-go with Greta Hayes testing USA goalkeeper Kelsey Bing early.
Claire Colwill then gave the Hockeyroos a 4th minute lead as she slung her drag flick into the bottom right corner to score her second senior international goal.
The first quarter belonged to the Hockeyroos with hard pressing from forwards Abby Wilson and Rosie Malone forcing turnovers.
However, the USA drew level midway through the second quarter when they were awarded a penalty stroke which co-captain Ashley Hoffman duly converted.
The visitors looked to snatch the lead heading into half time, two short corner attempts denied by Hockeyroos goalkeeper Aleisha Power.
Hattie Shand was getting it done at both ends of the pitch with the defender shooting on back-to-back corners only for Bing to prevent both.
Bing was set on not letting another drag flick get past her as she saved two Penny Squibb efforts in a row early in the fourth quarter.
The Hockeyroos finally found a way through when Lawton sent a clinical tomahawk into the left-hand corner.
The USA removed Bing for an extra field player but the Hockeyroos kept their noses in front up to the final siren.
“This week was a pretty big learning curve for us all,” said Hockeyroos midfielder Rebecca Greiner.
“There are lots of things we can take away from the games but it’s definitely nice to finish with a win.”
“We had a new group come together here and I think we gelled and connected really well, so it was good to see how we built over the course of the tournament.”
Match Details
Hockeyroos 2 (Colwill 4’, Lawton 58’)
USA 1 (Hoffman 22’)
@ Tasmanian Hockey Centre
Hockeyroos: 1.Claire Colwill, 2.Rosie Malone, 4.Amy Lawton, 5.Grace Young, 6.Penny Squibb (c), 7.Aleisha Power (gk), 8.Georgia Wilson, 9.Shanea Tonkin, 11.Meg Pearce, 12.Greta Hayes, 13.Hattie Shand, 21.Renee Taylor, 28.Hannah Cullum-Sanders, 29.Rebecca Greiner, 35.Maddison Brooks, 42.Maddison Smith, 44.Abby Wilson
Unused substitutes: 41.Zoe Newman (gk)
