FIH Hockey Pro League 2022/23 action got underway from Wellington, as hosts New Zealand faced off against the United States, with both teams playing their first game of the season. USA took the lead early in the second quarter and New Zealand had to wait till the final minute to find the leveller, as USA came close to registering an outright victory. The game headed into a shoot-out and Kelsey Bing came up big in the goal for USA, keeping the hosts out on all 4 of their attempts to get the shoot-out win and the bonus point for the visitors.

New Zealand vs USA 1-1 (SO: 0-2)

Before the start of the first game in the new mini-tournament in New Zealand, the teams and the fans observed a minute's silence as a mark of respect for those impacted by the recent cyclone and severe events in New Zealand.

The first quarter was played mostly in the USA half as New Zealand dominated possession and territory. But while USA struggled to get out of their own half, while the ball was in their own half they were extremely solid in defence, not allowing the Black Sticks a clean look at the goal. The one big chance that fell to New Zealand midway through the opening quarter was brilliantly taken away from Tyler Lench, just before she was about to get a shot away, by a brilliant tackle by Karlie Kisha.

The second quarter followed a similar pattern to the first, as New Zealand pressed USA deep into their own half, while the Americans were resolute in their defence. It took 21 minutes for USA to register their first circle penetration of the game, but they managed to convert their first chance into the first goal as Sanne Caarls received an aerial ball on the left, burst into the circle and sent in a cross in the direction of Golini, but the ball deflected off Frances Davies’ foot and snuck into the goal. New Zealand won two penalty corners late in the first half, and while the first led to the second due to an American foot in the circle, the second was sent wide to the left by Olivia Merry as USA took the lead into the break.

The first big chance of the second half fell the way of New Zealand as a diagonal pass by Thompson found Alex Lukin at the top of the circle and her shot was a whisker away from bringing the Black Sticks level, but the ball missed the left upright of the goal by inches as USA held on to their lead. USA started to grow into the game as the quarter progressed, keeping the ball in the hosts’ half. There were no goals in the quarter as the visitors could not find the final pass into the circle that could unlock the Black Sticks’ defence.

With 15 minutes left, the onus was on the hosts to find at least one goal to avoid defeat in the opening match of their 2022/23 Pro League campaign. New Zealand tried to sit deep and draw out the American team, with the hopes of catching them out on counter attacks. The Black Sticks’ midfield and forward line struggled to connect throughout the game as there were plenty of counter-attacking opportunities that started off from their own half, but fell by the way-side in the final third as the attackers failed to connect with each other. USA were reduced to 9 players in the final minutes with Yeager and Zimmer receiving yellow cards. New Zealand won a penalty corner with less than a minute left in the game and finally got on the board as Stephanie Dickins’ drag flick snuck between Bing and the post defender, breaking USA hearts, and sending the game into a shoot-out.

Kelsey Bing was incredible for USA in the shoot-outs as she saved twice and forced two more shots wide, with New Zealand failing to convert from all 4 of their attempts, while goals from Leah Crouse and Ashely Sessa were enough to seal the shoot-out win and a bonus point for the visitors.

Meredith Sholder was awarded player of the match and said: “I am really proud of the team. We competed hard till the very end against a really good New Zealand team, and it was great to come away with a win in the shoot-out.”

FIH Pro League – 18 February 2023

National Hockey Center, Wellington (NZL)

Result: Women’s Match 19

New Zealand 1-1 USA (SO: 0-2)

Player of the Game: Meredith Sholder (USA)

Umpires: Cookie Tan (SGP), Junko Wagatsuma (JPN), Amber Church (NZL-video)