Canada blanks France in San Diego
March 29, 2010
From FIH
With a contingent of Canadian fans in the background, Canada and France met in the second match of day 3 of the ATAHolding Qualifier. The battle for possession was fierce. Canada had a series of attacking opportunities midway through the first half, but France’s keeper Anabelle Got thwarted any scoring attempt. Canada persisted and in the 26th minute, Robyn Pendleton’s shot deflected off Got and into the goal for the 1-0 lead over France.
Canada’s Stephanie Jameson made it 2-0 in the 32nd minute off a penalty corner shot, which also deflected off Got during a diving save; the 2-0 score stood at halftime.
In the second, both teams again came out battling for possession and a chance to attack; and both missed sound opportunities to score off penalty corners. Like much of the first half, Canada appeared to be in control of the match.
France’s Got made big saves in the second half, as Canada was also unable capitalize off their penalty corners during the half. France gained more possession of the ball late in the second half. With under two minutes remaining, Canada’s Katherine Gillis received a yellow card for pushing near her own goal. Yet, France could not capitalize and Canada won the match two-nill against France.
"I’m happy about the win and the performance of the team in the first
half," stated coach Louis Mendonca. "We struggled in some areas in the second half but we competed to
see out the result. To become a competitive nation we must be more
consistent."
Game Statistics:
6min – Can FP shot – save
6min – Fra FP shot – save
26min – Can FP Goal 1-0 – Great reception from Nesbitt who passed it off to Raye at the top of the circle back to Nesbitt who was cutting left, who sent it far post for a Pendleton knock in
31min – Can PC Goal 2-0 – Direct shot – Steph Jameson
40min – Fra – PC – Gillis (first runner) got a piece of it – second attempt shot over the net
42min Can – PC – another pc
42min Can – PC – Di Roemer – hit the crossbar
49min Fra – Green Card
52min Fra – PC – Gillis got a piece of it – second attempt saved by Liu
53min Can -PC – shot off target
60min Can – PC – save
60min Fra – Green Card
65min Can – Green Card – Steph Jameson
68min Can – Yellow Card – Kate Gillis
