The Black Sticks women were unable to do what the men did and win their opening round of the Oceania Cup in Hobart, going down to the Australian Hockeyroos 2-1 last night.
The Black Sticks men beat Australia for the first time since 1999 when they won 3-0 in the early game and, although the women opened the scoring and had their chances, couldn't hold on.
Katie Glynn opened the scoring for the Black Sticks in the fourth minute and, with Kayla Sharland controlling the midfield, they had the better of the first quarter before Australia stepped up their attacking pressure and created some chances of their own.
Australia score from a penalty stroke following a Black Sticks foot infringement in the goal mouth 10 minutes before the break and they went to halftime 2-1 ahead after converting a penalty corner.
The Black Sticks stepped up their intensity in the second half and put Australia under sustained pressure. Some great play from Glynn created New Zealand's best scoring chance but Australia scrambled to keep them out. Anita Punt, Stacey Michelsen, Sally Rutherford, Clarissa Eshuis and Sharland were all standouts at times as the Black Sticks piled on the pressure but they couldn't score.
"We created enough chances to win, we just couldn't put the ball in the net,'' Black Sticks women's assistant coach Greg Nicol said.
The two teams have a rest day today before game two in the three-game series on Saturday. New Zealand and Australia's men's and women's teams have already qualified for the Olympics.
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