Field Hockey Canada > Canadian women look to rebound in second match with Blacksticks

Their training matches went well for the most part, and despite eventually falling 4-1 in the first of three official test matches versus the world’s fourth best team, the New Zealand Blacksticks, the Canadian Women’s National Field Hockey Team will likely be taking more positivies than negatives into the second match.

After going down 1-0 early on a first quarter goal from Petrea Webster, the Canadian women rallied in the second. The Canadians earned a penalty corner and as she often does, Karli Johansen stood behind center looking to receive the ball.

Things went as planned and Johansen notched the equalizer with eight minutes left in the first half.

Goalkeeper Kaitlyn Williams made a key save off a Kiwi penalty corner before the half was out but just before the whistle to indicate half time, New Zealand was able to convert on another chance to make it 2-1.

Heading into the first match of the test series, Canadian head coach Ian Rutledge indicated the women were playing the best he has seen them play in the nearly two years he has been at the helm. But the stakes were raised in an official test match with one of the world’s top tier teams, who clearly increased their level of play from the friendly played earlier in the week.

In the second, Williams continued her solid play and kept Canada in it, but a goal in the fortieth minute from the home team’s Olivia Merry made the task of a comeback even more difficult for Canada. New Zealand were awarded five penalty corners throguh the game and added another tally in the sixteith minute to put the match out of reach.

Despite the loss, the Canadian will be looking to build on their performance heading into the second match which will be played at 6:00pm PT/9:00pm ET on Friday.

For a schedule and results of the Canadian Women’s National Team’s test series in New Zealand, click here.