After day after winning a practice scrimmage versus the England development squad, the Canadian Women’s National Team dropped its first test match of the 2014 U.K. Test Series 6-1 against the England National Team, Monday at the Bisham Abbey Sports Centre in Bisham, Marlow.
Things looked good for Canada at the outset as captain Kate Gillis (Kingston, Ont.) put the visitors ahead in the sixth minute. But the rest of the first half was controlled by the England side, which is in its final preparation for the 2014 World Cup, to be held in the Hague this summer.
Ashleigh Ball responded for England on a penalty corner in the thirteenth minute to tie the game at one. Five minutes later it was Susannah Townsend who gave England the 2-1 lead. Ball’s second of the game in the twenty-third minute put the English up 3-1, while a goal in the thirty-third minute from Sophie Bray made it 4-1 heading into the half.
Canada failed to put another goal on the board, but managed to hold England, which is ranked third in the world, to only two goals in the second half.
Susie Gilbert scored in the fifteith minute, while Hollie Webb notched the game’s final marker on a penalty corner in the sixty-third minute.
The bright spot of the day for Canada came in the form of a milestone for defender Abigail Raye (Kelowna, B.C.), who suited up in her 100th international match for Canada. At 22, Raye becomes the youngest Canadian to reach the milestone.
Gillis is expected to follow suit and be capped for the 100th time in Canada’s next match.
View the full match sheet here.
Canada will face England again in a second test match on Wednesday, April 30 before moving on to face Wales in three test matches. For a full schedule click here.
