Team Canada matches Commonwealth Games best with fifth place finish
Canada wasted no time kick-starting their final Commonwealth Games finale as Hannah Haughn broke the 0-0 score line in the 4th minute of play. Brie Stairs navigated the Scottish defense and smashed a reverse cross, which Haughn deflected in nicely.
It was a dream start for Team Canada, who was playing to match their all-time best Commonwealth Games finish of fifth place, which they earned in 2018. Canada has dominated the Scotland matchup, winning their last five head-to-head games, so they had confidence coming in.
Scotland fired back at the end of the first quarter, when Scotland’s Amy Costello slapped a penalty corner goal. The score was tied for all but a few minutes as Haughn got right back to her goal-scoring ways, re-establishing the lead at the start of the second quarter, in a mirror image fashion, finishing off a nice Stairs circle entry and cross.
The third was more of what Canada saw in the second with the Wolf Pack controlling the pace of play and holding the attacking momentum for the most part. On Canada’s second corner of the half, Karli Johansen buried a bottom corner bullet to establish a two-goal margin.
From that moment on, it was all Canada. Flurry of offensive chances were led by Natalie Sourissau, Amanda Woodcroft, Brie Stairs and the dual-goal-scorer, Hannah Haughn. Scotland pushed back in the fourth, applying pressure and attempting to draw even. Canada formed a defensive shell in the final 10 minutes and faced foray after foray of Scottish entries.
Canada defeats Scotland and takes fifth at the Commonwealth Games. Photos/Yan Huckendubler
With the extra player, Scotland continued to come fast into the Canadian zone. Canada’s defensive line withstood the pressure as the backline of Sara McManus, Karli Johansen, Lexi De Armond, and Sara Goodman kept the Scottish attack at bay. With nine minutes remaining, Scotland earned a series of penalty corners, which strong running supported by a pair of diving Rowan Harris save, yielded no goals.
The team-defense was rewarded when Natalie Sourisseau picked off a wide pass and drove the length of the pitch. She earned a PC with no keeper, which Scotland defended well. Scotland came at the Canadians again, but time was their biggest enemy. Rowan Harris made one more save in tight and Canada got their final game across the finish line with a 3-1 victory.
It was a complete team performance as Canada hold their spot as fifth in the Commonwealth. A fantastic finish after two extremely close losses to India and England kept them out of the semifinals.
