Jillaroos wrap up series against Japan Junior Women's Team

The Jillaroos have ended their four match series against Japan’s Junior Women’s Team in Canberra undefeated. Get the full roundup from every match here.

Match 1 (22 February 2020)

The Jillaroos have opened their series against Japan’s Junior Women’s Team with a 3-1 penalty shootout win after scores were locked 2-2 at full time.

Despite both sides creating numerous chances in the opening half an hour, the game remained scoreless at the main interval.

The deadlock was eventually broken in the 34^th minute courtesy of Jillaroos captain Aisling Utri, who struck truly from a penalty corner to give the home side the lead.

Utri’s goal was all that separated the teams heading into what would be an action packed last quarter.Within the space of three minutes, Japan turned the game on its head when they struck twice to hit the front with seven minutes to go.

But there was still time for one more twist and it came when Alice Arnott pounced to draw the Jillaroos level.

Neither side could snatch a winner in the final three minutes as the full time hooter sounded, meaning a penalty shootout would decide the contest.

Utri, Courtney Schonell and Emma de Broughe all converted their penalties, while goalkeeper Hannah Astbury played her part as Japan missed two of theirs to give the Jillaroos victory.

Reflecting on the match, Jillaroos Head Coach Tim White said he was pleased with the first up performance.

“Being the first game of the series, we played some pretty good hockey and started to do some things that we were hoping to achieve in terms of our structure and our way of playing,” said White.

“We had a number of penalty corners and chances but were only 1-0 up at three quarter time. Then Japan scored twice in quick succession from a couple of defensive lapses.

“But we were able to get an equaliser and then in the shootout the girls managed to score all three penalties, so overall there were some good signs but also lots of things to review and improve on.”

Match Details
Jillaroos 2 (A.Utri 34’, Arnott 57’)
Japan Junior Women’s Team 2 (Sano 51’, Orui 53’)
Jillaroos win 3-1 on penalties
Click here for the full match details.

Match 2 (23 February 2020)

The Jillaroos have defeated Japan’s Junior Women’s Team 5-1 in the second match of their four match series in Canberra.

The Australians led 2-1 at half time before rounding off a clinical display.

Just as she did in Match 1, Jillaroos captain Aisling Utri opened the scoring from a penalty corner, which came in the 9^th minute.

No less than 60 seconds later Carly James made it 2-0 from another penalty corner to give the home side a dream start.

Shiho Kobayakawa pegged a goal back for Japan in the 21^st minute, however it proved just a momentary blip for the Jillaroos as they struck three more times in the second half.

Renee Rockliff’s 41^st minute field goal made it 3-1 before Courtney Schonell and Morgan Blamey got in on the act in the last quarter to round off a result that Jillaross Head Coach Tim White was tighter than the final scoreline suggested.

“When I reflect on Match 2, there were things that we looked to improve on which we did,” said White.

“We were rewarded with some good play by getting some goals on the board, but Japan still had their chances as well.”

“From a stats point of view, we probably created as many if not more chances in the first game, but we were more efficient in our attacking areas in this match and managed to finish off.

White said the opening two matches, which came after a solid week long training camp with the full Junior Development Squad, have been a valuable learning experience for his team for a host of reasons.

“Just like the opportunity we had against New Zealand and India at the end of last year, these series are great for both nations,” said White.

“Japan are a well skilled, well organised opponent and we expect another two difficult matches to come in the series.”

“I think what the girls have done a really good job at is that every athlete from the National Junior Squad who was the camp got a lot out of it.

“Then once we changed focus and turned our attention to preparing to play against Japan, I have been really impressed with the team’s ability to get on board with the way we want to go about things.

“I have been really impressed by the way the playing group, both the more senior members and also the junior players, have driven the culture side of things because with these opportunities, we’re not only looking for performance outcomes but also development outcomes as a group and individually.

“I’m confident that we are ticking some boxes in those two categories.

With four matches in five days, White also sees the benefits in players knowing what it takes to manage a challenging schedule and workload.

“This is a demanding series and comes off the back of a national training camp, so part of the reasons for this is to see and understand their ability in this kind of environment,” said White.

“They have had to prepare and recover well during the national camp, and then once the series has started, playing four matches in five days is demanding, both from a physical and mental perspective.”

“It’s a great experience and opportunity for them to understand the requirements of playing back to back matches.”

Match Details
Jillaroos 5 (A.Utri 9’, James 10’, Rockliff 41’, Schonell 55’, Blamey 60’)
Japan Junior Women’s Team 1 (Kobayakawa 21’)
Jillaroos win 3-1 on penalties
Click here for the full match details.

Match 3 (25 February 2020, 6pm AEDT)

After scoring five goals 48 hours earlier, the Jillaroos scored another handful in a 5-0 win over Japan’s Women’s Team in the third match of their series in Canberra.

Amazingly, all five Jillaroos goals came in a second half barrage, including four in the last quarter, after neither side could find the net in the opening 30 minutes.

Blamey Morgan put the Jillaroos ahead courtesy of field goal in the 41^st minute as both sides had a player receive a green card and subsequent 2 minutes on the sideline in the third quarter.

The match was still anyone’s game but that all changed within the space of 60 crazy seconds in the 51^st minute as first Alice Arnott struck from a penalty corner before Courtney Schonell scored from open play almost immediately from the restart.

Four minutes later Arnott was at it again to make it 4-0 before Schonell scored her second in the final minute to cap off the resounding victory.

Coming off a rest day, Jillaroos Head Coach Tim White admitted the team was somewhat sluggish in the early stages but was delighted with the way they responded after half time to produce some of their best hockey of the series so far.

“Maybe it was due to the rest day, but it was a disappointing first half and we could not really get going,” said White.

“But to the players’ credit, they raised their level in the second half and were rewarded in what was an excellent display where everything came together. There was good build up play to allow our forwards opportunities and they scored some good goals.”

“After half time I think it was simply a matter of improving our fundamentals and we managed to start scoring.”

Match Details
Jillaroos 5 (Blamey 41’, Arnott 51’/55’, Schonell 51’/60’)
Japan Junior Women’s Team 0
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Match 4 (26 February 2020, 10am AEDT)

The Jillaroos have ended their four match series against Japan’s Junior Women’s Team undefeated after prevailing in a penalty shootout in the final encounter on Wednesday.

Similarly to Match 1, the sides could not be separated at full time with scores locked at 2-2. It took successful penalties from Aisling Utri and Emma de Broughe, coupled with some excellent goalkeeping from Hannah Astbury to give the Jillaroos a 2-1 win in the shootout.

The score line of the match followed a similar pattern to the opening match day when the Jillaroos scored first, before Japan struck twice to take the lead, only for the Jillaroos to equalise.

A well taken Carly James drag flick broke the deadlock in the 13^th minute to give the Jillaroos a 1-0 lead until Momoko Omoto responded for Japan from a penalty corner in the 21^st minute.

Then in the shadows of three quarter time the visitors took the lead as Fuka Samori pounced.

However, as they had done at times throughout the series, the Jillaroos showed maturity and character in arresting back the momentum.

And it would be Alice Arnott to score the equaliser from a penalty corner, her fourth goal of the series tying it up with 11 minutes remaining.

Despite both teams’ best efforts, a winning goal in regular time failed to eventuate before the Jillaroos’ cool heads proved the difference in the shootout.

At the conclusion of the match to end the four match series, Jillaroos Head Coach Tim White paid full credit to his playing group.

“From the time they came into the training camp and then throughout the series, the players have shown a real hunger to improve,” said White.

 “Collectively in each game we have added certain aspects to make us broader in how we play. You can’t solve everything in Match 1 so what has impressed me is that this group has identified and worked on areas for improvement and really pushed the style of play that we are looking for.”

Match Details
Jillaroos 2 (James 13’, Arnott 49’)
Japan Junior Women’s Team 2 (Omoto 21’, Samori 45’)
Jillaroos win 2-1 on penalties
Click here for the full match details.

Jillaroos Team (Australia’s Junior Women’s Hockey Team) for Japan internationals