The hat trick scored by Krystal Forgesson in her 100th game for New Zealand was bitter sweet for the Black Stick player at the BDO World Cup for hockey being played in Rosario, Argentina.
While she got New Zealand on the scoreboard, it was not enough to counter the might of the world’s number one and current women Olympic champion hockey team, Netherlands.
The Black Sticks lost 7-3 to Netherlands in conditions usually only found in Southland.
“We got a lot of hockey lessons today from a very good team that is playing very sharp hockey and although we started well and we were in the game, I think we allowed two soft goals by allowing them to get in behind us and not marking,” said Black Sticks Women’s Coach Mark Hager.
Krystal Forgesson had the Black Sticks off to the best of starts, scoring in the second minute, only to startle Netherlands into action.
Ellen Hoog punished New Zealand within the minute of Forgesson’s goal and Kim Lammers put Netherlands ahead 2-1 in the middle of the first half.
The Black Sticks tenacity kept Netherlands at bay until after the break when Netherlands scored three goals in the first four minutes of the second half - Marilyn Agliotti, Maartje Paumen’s one and only penalty corner conversion from eight chances and Michelle van der Pols quickly had New Zealand facing a 5-1 scoreline.
Janneke Schopman and Ellen Hoog added to New Zealand’s troubles at 7-1 until Netherlands lost traction in the last five minutes, giving away space in the midfield to the Black Sticks.
Forgesson clawed back two late goals for the Black Sticks - a field goal deflection of Charlotte Harrison’s cross and flicking in a penalty stroke in the last seconds of play, earned off New Zealand’s second penalty corner.
“Beth Jurgeleit played really well against the corners early on and kept us in the match but when we had a player sent off [Katie Glynn minute 34] and with a team playing well against us and moving the ball well, they punished us in the minutes after half time,” Hager said.
“The game was probably over by then but it is a credit to our girls that they fought back,” Hager added.
Black Stick Captain Kayla Sharland identified the lessons learned.
“We started well and we were building some of the pressure against the Dutch but then our basics let us down, as we were turning over the ball too early and too easily so it was a very tough lesson, and pretty embarrassing to be honest,” Sharland said.
“We need to know where the players are behind us and learn from how the Dutch use their midfield,” Sharland added.
“Our young midfield are not strong enough or have enough quality in their basic skills under pressure,” added Hager.
The Black Sticks face Japan next, on Friday evening in Rosario, Saturday in New Zealand.
Photo: Krystal Forgesson charges ahead on tight defence from her Dutch opponent
ENDS
