The sides were level from the previous night when they met in Energia Park this evening. Ireland the more dominant on night one of the doubleheader threatened from the start, with the opening chance of the game coming from Anna O’Flanagan, unfortunately going wide. Canada came back with a penalty corner at 7 minutes. McFerran saved and a scramble ensued, with Mullan pushing the rebound out of the circle to be taken back up the pitch. Hawkshaw was solid up near Canada circle, with Tice strong in defence later in Q1 when Canada threatened 13 minutes in. The sides remained level in the first quarter with neither team adding to the scoreboard.
Wilson, Duke and Colvin started off strong in the second quarter to get things going, however, Duke was on the receiving end of a Green Card shortly after. Canada appeared to have more chances throughout the second quarter, however, none prevailed. A bounce over Mullan’s stick skimmed the back of it before she circled it expertly around her opponent and found a Canadian foot. The awarding penalty corner awarded to Ireland was overturned by the video umpire for a back-stick.
Canada failed to convert a huge chance in the third
quarter to put themselves on the scoreboard. A penalty corner for Ireland
failed to convert in the final quarter, and the sides remained level going into
the final minute. Canada were awarded two consecutive penalty corners in the
final minute of the game. The final hooter went with level sides still. A
penalty shoot-out was to decide the fate of both teams.
The Penalty shoot-out saw Ireland down 3 – 1 at one point. However, the team held their nerve with Bethany Barr bringing them back up to 3 – 2 down. Chloe Watkins brought the equaliser and Canada’s Johnston was denied by McFerran, taking them to sudden death. The packed house in Energia Park held its breath.
Roisin Upton slipped by Williams and put the ball
across the line for Ireland, surviving a video referral. Woodcroft failed to
take her shot before the 8 seconds were up, and Ireland secured their ticket to
Tokyo. The first Irish Women’s Hockey team to do so ever.
Ireland: A McFerran, R Upton, K Mullan, S McCay, L
Tice, B Barr, C Watkins, L Colvin, N Daly, A O’Flanagan, Z Wilson
Subs: S Barr, N Evans, G Pinder, H Matthews, S
Hawkshaw, D Duke, L Murphy
Canada: K Williams, K Wright, D Hennig, R Donohoe, K
Johansen, N Aourissea, S McManus, A Woodcroft, B Stairs, S Johnston, S
Norlander
Subs: A Lee, E Wong, K Leahy, H Haughn, N Woodcroft,
M Secco, R Harris
Umpires: Y Makar (CRO), M Meister (GER)
