Photo: PHOTOSPORT
The Black Sticks women have ended their latest FIH Pro League campaign with a 5-2 loss to China in Wellington.
China had a brilliant start to the game spending the opening five minutes in and around the Black Sticks’ circle.
A penalty corner in the 9th minute was taken by China with the shot hitting a defender’s foot on the goal line leading to a penalty stroke which was dispatched with ease.
New Zealand’s first penalty corner early in the second quarter, led to a penalty stroke. Olivia Merry stepped up to take it and scored to bring New Zealand level against the run of play.
China restored their lead in the 23rd minute as a cross from the left fell to Zhang Xiaoxue who dragged the ball to her reverse and scored with a powerful tomahawk shot.
China doubled their lead soon when a cross into the New Zealand circle was met by keeper Brooke Roberts, but her clearance fell straight to Zou Meirong, whose shot across the face of the goal was deflected in by Chen Yang.
The Kiwis halved the deficit late in the third quarter from a penalty corner with Merry’s first attempt blocked, but the ball fell back to Merry and her second attempt was deflected in at the far post by Hannah Cotter.
Penalty corners kept coming for China in the final quarter and they added two more goals. Gu Bingfeng was brilliant for the visitors.
The Black Sticks captain Megan Hull told Spark Sport that it was a tough day at the office.
“China just outplayed us and outworked us, so we’re really disappointed. We know we’re capable of so much more so we’ve got to take this as a learning moment for us moving forward.
“We’ve got such amazing talent in this group and such promise so moving forward we just know we have to be better,” Hull said.
The Black Sticks lost their opening two games last week via penalty shootouts against China and the USA before getting their first win of the season by beating USA 4-1 yesterday.
The Black Sticks men’s and women’s teams will resume their FIH Pro League campaigns in late April against Australia and Great Britain in Christchurch.
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