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Hockeyroos celebrate. Photo by Treebyimages.com.au
Day 1 – Saturday July 11
Hockeyroos 2 Germany 0 (1-0 half time)
AUS – Emily Hurtz 36m FG, Madonna Blyth 43m FG
The new look Hockeyroos kick-started their Samsung Hockey Champions Trophy - Women’s 2009 Tournament in style, beating Germany 2-0.
Debutante Fiona Boyce got her first touch of the game and the Hockeyroos had a few chances up front with runs from Hope Munro and Casey Eastham.
Neither team was able to convert opportunities and Australia’s two penalty corners saw narrow misses from Eastham and Nicole Arrold.
The second half was a strong start for the Hockeyroos when NSW native Emily Hurtz got into open space and forced a one on one with the goal keeper. Hurtz showed great skills to beat Vogel and take Australia to a 1-0 lead. At 19 Hurtz scored her sixth goal for the Hockeyroos in just ten internationals.
In the 43rd minute an Eastham shot from out wide got a great diving deflection from Australian captain Madonna Blyth and took the Hockeyroos to a 2-0 lead, the same margin they beat Germany by only a week ago in Perth.
Playing out the second half with confidence in attack, Megan Rivers and Hope Munro continued to create chances for the home side.
Germany tried to force their way onto the scoreboard but strong defence from the Hockeyroo backline led by Nicole Arrold kept things tidy at the back.
Hockeyroo captain Madonna Blyth said after the game the players were pleased with the win.
“We will take a lot of confidence from that win and it does show that we can mix it with the top teams and come away with good wins too.”
Blyth said she was pleased with the young and inexperienced players in the team.
“A lot of them are local Sydney girls but they were quite relaxed and excited before the game and I think they will take a lot of confidence from the win.”
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