Hockeyroos stage stirring fightback to draw with Blacksticks

Stunning strikes from Steph Kershaw and Mariah Williams have seen the Hockeyroos come from two goals down to record a 2-2 draw with New Zealand.

The result is the second stalemate in as many days between the teams who cannot be split with two matches to go in the series.

Despite dominating large periods of the game, the Hockeyroos were forced to play catch up as they found themselves behind 2-0 after 35 minutes.

But Kershaw reduced the deficit in the 38th minute before Williams, playing just her second game since 2019, lit up the Massey University turf with a brilliant tomahawk to level the scores.

Hockeyroos Head Coach Katrina Powell brought in Amy Lawton, Ashlee Wells, Penny Squibb, Maddy Fitzpatrick, Kaitlin Nobbs, Renee Taylor and Williams into the team from the one that drew 1-1 last night.

Just like in Game 1, the Hockeyroos found themselves under pressure from the opening pushback.

Jocelyn Bartram pulled off a crucial double save inside the opening minute before the Hockeyroos defence survived a couple of early Blacksticks corners.

The Hockeyroos then had their own share of penalty corners but could not capitalise.

The hosts then went ahead in the 11th minute when Olivia Merry fed the ball into the circle for Kelsey Smith, who with her back to goal managed to steer it past Bartram.

A well worked build up from Lawton and Brooke Peris saw the ball find its way to Courtney Schonell but she could not send her effort beyond Blacksticks goalkeeper Georgia Barnett.

Trailing by the solitary goal at half time, the Hockeyroos suffocated the Blacksticks in their own half in the early stages of the third quarter.

But the Hockeyroos were dealt a sucker punch when a Steph Dickins drag flick crept through the legs of Ashlee Wells who started in goal in the second half.

The Hockeyroos then showed great character as some sublime skill cut the deficit three minutes later.

Some fancy stick work to the right of the circle from Savannah Fitzpatrick, who started the move inside her own half, saw the ball come to Williams.

With her back to goal, Williams dragged left and right until she picked out Kershaw with a clever reverse stick pass and the talented midfielder took a touch before instinctively rocketing a tomahawk past New Zealand keeper Georgia Barnett.

Fittingly it was Williams, a proud Aboriginal woman, who would score a stunning tomahawk to equalise with five minutes to go on a night the Hockeyroos wore their Indigenous uniform to celebrate and raise awareness for National Reconciliation Week.

The teams will have a day off tomorrow before renewing hostilities in front of an expected sellout crowd in Palmerston North on Sunday.

Match Details
Hockeyroos 2 (Kershaw 38’, Williams 55’)
New Zealand 2 (Smith 11’, Dickins 35’)
@ Massey University Turf

Hockeyroos: 2.Rosie Malone, 3.Brooke Peris, 4.Amy Lawton, 5.Ashlee Wells (gk), 6.Penny Squibb, 10.Maddy Fitzpatrick, 11.Meg Pearce, 13.Edwina Bone (c), 14.Stephanie Kershaw, 15.Kaitlin Nobbs, 16.Courtney Schonell, 18.Jane Claxton, 19.Jocelyn Bartram (gk), 21.Renee Taylor, 22.Kate Jenner, 23.Kalindi Commerford, 24.Mariah Williams, 32.Savannah Fitzpatrick

New Zealand: 2.Olivia Shannon, 4.Olivia Merry, 5.Frances Davies, 7.Kayla Whitelock, 12.Ella Gunson, 13.Samantha Charlton, 14.Tyler Lench, 16.Liz Thompson, 17.Steph Dickins, 19.Tessa Jopp, 20.Megan Hull, 21.Alia Jaques, 22.Katie Doar, 24.Rose Keddell, 25.Kelsey Smith, 31.Stacey Michelsen (c), 42.Georgia Barnett (gk)
Unused Substitutes: 15.Grace O’Hanlon (gk)