Australia created the upset of the opening day of the women’s World League Inter-Continental Cup in Auckland (AUS) with a dramatic 9-8 win against Olympic and world champions USA.

USA coach Adam Krikorian praised how Australia played but also lamented his side’s fitness: “Australia played great, played tough. We played well in the first quarter, and after that Australia controlled the game and deserved the win. I think our fitness level is not where it needs to be, hopefully we will be better tomorrow than we were today. To get better is a goal for us.”

Hosts New Zealand also went close to a stunning upset, losing 9-8 to the ninth ranked Japan. It will give them a lot of confidence going into their day two match against Canada, who had a narrow, 11-10 win against China.

Game 1: Canada - China 11-10 (3-2, 2-2, 4-3, 2-3)
Referees: German Moller (ARG), Danielle Dabbaghian (USA)

Canada: Clara Vulpisi; Krystina Alogbo (2); Gunpreet Sohi; Floranne Carroll; Monika Eggens (3); Kelly McKee (1); Joelle Bekhazi (1); Michelle Caron; Axelle Crevier (2); Alexa Tielmann; Brianna Utas; Shae Fournier (2); Serena Bredin.

China: Lin Peng; Ying Zhai (1); Xiaohan Mei (1); Dunhan Xiong; Huan Wang (1); Ning Guo (1); Sanfeng Nong; Jiawen Lu; Zewen Deng (1); Danyi Zhang; Xiao Chen (3); Jing Zhang (2); Yineng Shen.

Canada scored first through Monika Eggens with Kelly McKee quick to follow that up before Shae Fournier added a third before China got on the scoreboard through Xiaohan Mei. China finished the quarter with a superb goal to Jing Zhang, the sixth ranked team in the world going in to the breakdown 2-3.

When Xiao Chen turned and scored from in front early in the second quarter the scorers were tied at 3-3 but a break out by Fournier soon put Canada back in front. Zhang levelled the scores at 4-4 with her second goal just a few minutes later but Canada moved ahead again with Axelle Crevier’s first goal, and went into halftime ahead 5-4.

When Eggens rifled home her second goal Canada stretched their lead to two, ahead 6-4, but it opened up a flurry of scoring with goals traded almost instantly. When a bit of calmness was restored Eggens had scored three goals and Canada led 7-6.

Canada’s captain Krystina Alogbo went desperately close but instead it was Ying Zhai who brought China level at 7-7 before Crevier’s second goal moved Canada ahead yet again, 8-7.

Alogbo eventually got her goal with a lovely pass to in front of the goal, nudging her team to 9-7 and it stayed there at the break.

But the trend of the third quarter continue with China’s Huan Wang scoring to again close the gap to one then Zewen Deng scored the easiest of goals and things were level again, 9-9.

Alogbo scored from a rebounded shot by Fournier but Chen made sure things stayed even with her third goal only for Joelle Bekhazi to give Canada the lead, 11-10 with her first goal, and the win.

Quotes
Canada coach David Paradelo:

“Our offence was sound and synchronised and we got off to a good start but we knew it was going to be a tough game. Every time we got a two goal lead they were able to bring it back to level but I always felt we were in control. It’s just the little details on defence that we need to work on but we will be fine.”

Game 2: Kazakhstan - New Zealand (2) 19-5 (7-1, 2-1, 6-1, 4-2)
Referees: Yang Pang (CHN), Kazuzo Moribayashi (JPN)

Kazakhstan: Alexandra Zharkimbayeva, Oxana Saichuk, Aizhan Akilbayeva, Anna Turova, Anastassiya Yeremina, Darya Roga, Anna Novikova, Sivilya Raiter, Shakzoda Mansurova, Zamira Myrzabekova, Tomiris Kenenbayeva, Anastassiya Murataliyeva, Azhar Alibayeva.

New Zealand 2: Chantelle Conroy, Claudia Morgan, Gabrielle Milicich, Elle Tomoana (1), Kaitlin Dawson, Elizabeth Alsemgeest, Brogan Houghton, Shinae Carrington, Evangeline Mills, Gabriella MacDonald, Lucia Doak, gabryel Oloapu, Ella Harford.

Kazakhstan predictably raced away to a 6-0 lead against New Zealand’s second team with Oxana Saichuk and Zamira Myrzabekova each scoring twice. New Zealand’s sole goal of the quarter was to Ellie Tomoana and the hosts went into the second quarter trailing 1-7 against the 13th ranked women’s team.

They were first to score in the second half through captain Gabryel Oloapu but Sivilya Raiter quickly added to Kazakhstan’s tally, moving them to 8-2, before Anastassiya Yeremina’s first goal took them to 9-2 at halftime.

New Zealand were first to score in the third quarter too with a penalty drawn by Gabriella MacDonald and scored by Brougan Houghton. But it was one way traffic after that with Kazakhstan scoring six unanswered goals including two more for Yeremina as they finished the quarter ahead 15-3.

Raiter added to that lead with a show of strength in front of the goal and Elizabeth Alsemgeest almost answered with what would have been a well worked team goal for New Zealand, but the shot went wide.

She made up for that soon after, her first goal New Zealand’s fourth as Kazakhstan led 16-4. Zamira Myrzabekova scored under plenty then Aizhan Akilbayeva got her third as Kazakhstan eased out to a 14 goal lead, 18-4, before Myrzabekovagot another with a minute to play.

New Zealand had the final say though, Gabrielle Milicich scoring their fifth goal as they lost 19-5.

Quotes
Kazakhstan’s Tomiris Kenenbayeva:

“We feel wonderful. We expected that result because we have played them before and we know them and how they play. So we feel good going into the rest of the tournament.”

New Zealand coach Tim Chambers:

“Considering the amount of preparation we’ve had (just four trainings) the effort was good. It was just the execution on defence we need to work on. And we need to play with more patience on attack. If you rush your offence it’s hard to compete at this level.”

Game 3: United States – Australia 8-9 (3-1; 2-2; 2-4; 1-2)

USA: Gabrielle Stone; Valeria Ayala; Melissa Seidemann; Rachel Fattal (2); Jamie Neushul (1); Bayley Weber; Stephanie Haralabidis (3); Ryann Neushul; Jewel Roemer; Kaleigh Gilchrist; Abrielle Hill; Alys Williams (2); Georgia Phillips.

Australia: Lilian Edges, Keesja Gofers (4); Hannah Buckling, Elle Armit; Isobel Bishop; Bronwen Knox (1); Alice Williams; Jessica Zimmermam; Zoe Arancini (2); Amy Ridge; Morgan Baxter (1); Pascalle Casey (1); Gabriella Palm.

Australia caused a huge upset with their 9-8 win against the Olympic and world champion USA.

Though the USA started strongly with a goal inside 25 seconds scored by Alys Williams, Australia did not take long to respond with three good attacks though none got past goalkeeper Gabrielle Stone.

The United States seemed to be leading the first quarter scoring with Jamie Neushul, when Bronwen Knox scored for Australia, 2-1 and kept the game balanced. USA scored again a few seconds before the end of the first quarter with Stephanie Haralabidis. The game was balanced, with attacks from both sides, but with the USA’s team being more effective.

The second quarter started with Stephanie Haralabidis scoring again, 4-1.
After well-worked passes, Australia scored through Keesja Gofers and again with the captain Zoe Arancini. The Australian team was dominating the second half and near to close the gap to one when USA scored with Alys Williams putting the USA ahead, 5-3. Half time.

USA started scoring in the third quarter with Stephanie Haralabidis, but Keesja Gofers quickly added two to Australia’s tally, moving them to 6-5. The first of them drawn by a penalty.

USA answered with Rachel Fattal first goal, leading the game 7-5. The Australian captain Zoe Arancini got her second goal, nudging her team to 7-6. Only six seconds before the end of the third quarter, Keesja Gofers scored her 4th goal, and for the first time the game were level.

The last quarter started with an incredible defence of USA’s attack by Lilian Hedges, followed by a goal scored trough Pascalle Casey, putting Australia ahead for the first time in the game, 7-8. Australia could have increased the lead but the captain Zoe Arancini lost the penalty.

Rachel Fattal levelled the score at 8-8. Both Australia and USA goalkeepers made great defences in the last minutes of the match. The final seconds were dramatic when Morgan Baxter scored her first goal, putting Australia ahead again, 9-8. USA had only 7 seconds to level the match, but the ball stopped on Hedges hands.

Quotes
USA Coach Adam Krikorian:

“Australia played great, played tough. We played well in the first quarter, and after that Australia controlled the game and deserved the win. I think our fitness level is not where it needs to be, hopefully we will be better tomorrow than we were today. To get better is a goal for us.”

Game 4: New Zealand - Japan 7-9 (0-0; 1-3;1-3;5-3)

Japan: Miyuu Aoki; Yumi Arima (4); Miku Koide; Shino Magariyama (1); Chiaki Sakanoue; Minori Yamamoto (1); Maiko Hashida; Yuki Niizawa (1); Kana Hosoya; Misaki Noro (2); Marina Tokumoto; Kotori Suzuki; Minami Shioya.

New Zealand: Jessica Milicich; Nicole Lewis; Bernadette Doyle; Morgan McDowall (2); Alexandra Boyd; Caitlin-Mary Parker-Allen (2); Emmerson Houghton (2); Emma Stoneman; Grace Tobin (1); Kate Enoka; Kirsten Hudson, Brydie Pye; Bridget Layburn.

Emmerson Houghton lost the chance to score the first goal to New Zealand after Nicole Lewis suffered a penalty. Japan has tried to attack but couldn’t hit the target in the first quarter. Japan defence was responsible for a first quarter without goals.

Japan scored the first goal of the match in the second quarter with Yumi Arima, alone in a counter attack. The Japanese team tried to use this strategy again, but the ball stopped at Jessica Milicich hands. Japan scored with Minori Yamamoto, but Morgan McDowall got her goal next putting New Zealand again on the game, 1-2. By the end of the first half, Misaki Noro added a third goal to the quarter, keeping Japan ahead, by 3-1.

The Japanese team started the second half with the same strategy: work on counterattacks. Misaki Noro scored her second goal, while Yumi Arima eased out to a four-goal lead, 5-1. Emmerson Houghton made up for the missed goal and scored in the end of the quarter, but she was followed by a penalty scored by Yumi Arima. Japan on lead, 3-6.

New Zealand scored first in the last quarter with Morgan Mcdowall, but Yumi Arima eased out to a four-goal lead again, 3-7. Emmerson Houghton also scored her second goal before Japan got on the scoreboard again through their captain, Minori Yamamoto, followed by Yuki Niizawa.

New Zealand started a late reaction with two goals scored by Caitlin Mary Parker-Allen and one by Grace Torbin, before Jessica Milicich got a penalty, but they lost 9-7.