Hockeyroos v India 2023: Aussies claim three-match series 2-0
Despite a brutal government funding cut, the Hockeyroos are showing no signs of decline, with the inexperienced members of the squad stepping to the challenge in the lead up to Paris.
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The resurgence of Australian women’s hockey continues to boom in the lead up to Paris, defying the brutal government funding cuts that have left the sport scrambling to support its elite talent.
The Hockeyroos have been buoyed by the stunning efforts of several members of an inexperienced squad that, last week, torched India in Adelaide across three tests.
Hockey Australia, in conjunction with coach Katrina Powell and the players, have worked through an all-encompassing cultural overhaul, banishing the on-and-off-field demons that led to a substandard performance at the Tokyo Olympics and millions in Federal funding slashed.
On the back of medals at their last two major tournaments, game-two heroine Pippa Morgan — one of five debutantes in the India series for a squad without 14 regular internationals with 978 games of experience — said the results in Adelaide shone a light on the talent factory the women’s program now boasted.
“We’ve got a lot of great players coming through and the ability for a team with five debutantes to go out there and win the series just shows the depth of the squad,” Morgan said.
The potent Aussies — without four of their top-five international goalscorers — slammed home eight goals across the three games, most of world class quality.
Morgan and Tatum Stewart, in Saturday’s game two, were first-time goalscorers who sparked wild celebrations among the Hockeyroos as they sealed an unassailable 2-0 lead.
WA native Morgan marked a 25th birthday she’ll never forget with a clever deflection in just her second appearance for the Hockeyroos.
“It’s unreal, I’m probably not the biggest goalscoring player, to be honest, so it was pretty exciting for me to actually get on the board on my birthday,” Morgan said.
She’ll forever share the special moment with her mate from rural Queensland Stewart — who fired the first and second goals of what she hopes will be many for her country.
The defensive dynamo, just 21, is already known as a penalty corner expert.
“You do a lot of work so that when you get up there on the battery you can finish the job,” Tatum said of her prowess at finishing from the battery.
“Everyone’s done the hard work getting it there and winning the corner, so you have to finish it off for them.”
“I’m a big fan of jumping around when I score.”
Debutantes Ash Utri and Alice Arnott, both 25, each struck in the series opener, as did 22-year-old Courtney Schonell, while the youngest member of the team, 18-year-old Maddison Brooks, knocked in the Hockeyroos’ only goal in game three.
As impressive as the Aussie attack was, it was the defence that proved crucial in ensuring the undefeated series result.
That unit kept key Indian striker Navneet Kaur — who has 37 goals in her 130 international appearances — off the scoresheet, while goalkeepers Jocelyn Bartram and Zoe Newman were sublime in repelling what was often a barrage of attacking pressure from their opponents.
“It’s been a really big defensive effort by us, but we tightened up a few things … and we’ve managed to put away our opportunities,” Bartram said during game three.
Six-gamer Newman relieved the more experienced Bartram after halftime in each of the first two games and produced several highlight reel saves, none better than the penalty stroke denial in the opener she followed with a little celebratory jig.
Morgan’s debut was a long time coming but came after she took her game to the next level during a 10-month stint in the Belgium Hockey League with Royal Wellington.
“I only got back a couple weeks ago to play in Adelaide and it was an awesome experience and great for my hockey to go over there and play a different style with different people in a change of environment,” Morgan said.
Stewart, 21, said it took a community to help her get to the highest level and she enjoyed a wholesome moment, on Saturday night, thanking mum and dad on the Kayo Sports broadcast after she was named player of the game.
“Toowoomba is a big hockey community and I was so lucky to have everyone behind me growing up really wanting me to succeed,” she said.
“I made my way to the big city in Brisbane, played in the Queensland junior teams, had a little taste of junior internationals last year with the Jillaroos and was lucky enough to be called into the senior squad this year.
“A lot of people help you along the way and that’s really special for me.”
The daughter of teachers, it’s no surprise Stewart is studying physical education. Morgan has completed a degree in mechanical engineering and, similarly to her Hockeyroos infancy, she is about to begin a career in offshore engineering, working on projects for oil and gas rigs
BRILLIANT BABYROOS’ STUNNING FEAT AS GREEN SHOOTS EMERGE
The brilliant Babyroos have come away from their first trip to Adelaide in five years forced to settle for a 2-0 series win after India ground out a stalemate in Sunday’s third and final test.
The rivers of goals that flowed in the first two tests earlier this week dried up in a physical arm wrestle that ended in a 1-1 draw.
But the green shoots in coach Katrina Powell’s youthful squad sprung before our eyes across three high-quality encounters with the more seasoned Indians.
Ranked No. 3 in the world, the Aussies entered the series without 14 members of the official Hockeyroos squad — equating to 928 games of experience — and blooded five debutants.
From the 2017 squad that took on Japan the last time the Hockeyroos visited SA, only veterans Jane Claxton and Maddi Fitzpatrick remained.
Captain Claxton paid tribute to Powell’s inclusive selection policies that have fostered a broader talent pool for the Hockeyroos to choose from.
“Our aim was to build throughout the series, learning the way of play,” Adelaide local Claxton said.
“The first game was the first time we’ve played with each other, so it was an impressive build across the three matches.
“The best thing about what Trinny’s done for our group is bring so many people into the Hockeyroos fold.
“We have back ups on back ups on back ups of girls who can all do the same attacking-style hockey and put it in the back of the net when it’s needed.
“It’s a really exciting next few years for the Hockeyroos.”
The two teams, on Sunday night, went into the first break goalless after a scrappy opening quarter plagued by mistrals, bad passes and numerous general skill errors on both sides of the ball.
Both composed and, while India had the best of the chances, the Hockeyroos were more patient, their refusal to force the issue leading to the first goal of the game thanks to a powerful, scorching run from Abby Wilson.
Full back Maddi Smith’s aerial precision found Wilson on the right wing, who wore the physical efforts of two Indian defenders in a penetrating drive that ended with a brilliant cross to the youngest Hockeyroo Maddison Brooks, who tapped in at the back post.
The halftime scoreline, though, flattered the Aussies, who spent most of the first 30 minutes under the pump from an Indian side that won itself five penalty corners but could not find a way through a Rock-of-Gibraltar defence.
That was until late in the third when they were finally rewarded as Deep Grace Ekka’s penalty corner slap cannoned in off Bartram’s kicker to tie it up.
From there, neither side could break the deadlock.
Pleased but never satisfied, Powell already has one eye on what’s ahead for her emerging team.
“They’re really good lessons and you want other teams, especially in this type of environment, really coming at you to test you and show you what international hockey is all about,” Powell said.
“Within this series, we’ve been trying to improve every game and getting those processes right.
“We’re not where we need to be yet and, looking forward, we’ve got Europe Pro League and Oceania Cup our Olympic qualifiers, which is our major event for the year and something we’re keenly focused in on.”
Next up on the menu for the Hockeyroos are those Pro League contests — four of them — from June 8-20 against world No. 1 Netherlands and sixth-ranked Belgium in Eindhoven and Antwerp.
Get through that and the business of Paris follows, with a trio of tests from August 10-13 against New Zealand in Whangārei, which double as Olympic qualifiers.
THIRD TEST SCOREBOARD
Australia 1-1 India
GOALS
Hockeyroos:
Brooks 25’
India:
Deep Grace 42’
AUSTRALIA v INDIA SERIES
GAME 1: Aus 4-2 Ind
GAME 2: Aus 3-2 Ind
GAME 3: Aus 1-1 Ind
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