Day 1 to Day 3 of Women’s Hockey at Rio

Day 1

Rio 2016 Olympic Games – Women’s Hockey: Oranje, GB and USA maintain fine form on Day 3
Jonker inspires Netherlands to second win while Germany remain unbeaten in Pool A
USA upset FIH Hero World Rankings again to continue perfect start in Pool B
Great Britain win again to join USA at the top of the Pool B standings

8 August 2016 – Day 3 (women): All twelve of the competing women’s teams were in action on day three of the hockey competition at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, with Netherlands, USA and Great Britain maintaining their 100 percent win records at the Deodoro Hockey Centre on Monday.

In Pool A, 2004 Olympic champions Germany (WR: 9) upset the FIH Hero World Rankings with a 2-1 victory over New Zealand’s Black Sticks (WR: 4) to remain unbeaten after two matches. Die Danas fell behind to Petrea Webster’s 10th minute opener but hit back with goals in the second and third quarters through Pia-Sophie Oldhafer and Anne Schröder to take all three points and spark scenes of utter elation.

Discussing the reasons behind the celebrations, Germany’s Hannah Krüger said: “I think it was because we are always seen as the team, ‘ah the Germans, they are not that bad’, but if it’s important the other teams assume they will beat us. I think it is very important for our self-confidence that we have beaten a big nation, a nation that is high in the world rankings.”

Reigning Olympic and World champions the Netherlands (WR: 1) tightened their grip on Pool A by recording a comfortable 4-0 win against Asian champions Korea (WR: 8). Kelly Jonker scored in each of the first three quarters to net a hat-trick, with Carlien Dirkse van den Heuvel adding a fourth in the fourth quarter to put Oranje two points clear of Germany and China (WR: 6) at the top of the pool.

Beijing 2008 Olympic silver medallists China continued their good start at Rio 2016 by defeating 1992 Olympic champions Spain (WR: 14) 2-0, adding three points to the one collected in Sunday’s draw with Germany. Zhao Yudiao’s crisp volley opened the scoring eight minutes into the contest, with Yang Peng doubling the advantage five minutes before half time.

In Pool B, USA (WR: 5) defeated a higher-ranked opponent for the second successive game, this time beating third-ranked Australia 2-1 to take a maximum six points from their opening two matches following their opening day success against Argentina (WR: 2). Michelle Vitesse and Caitlin van Sickle were on target for Team USA, with Kathryn Slattery on target for a Hockeyroos’ team that has yet to pick up a point in Rio. In contrast, the Americans have really hit the ground running, and now find themselves in a fantastic position ahead of their final three Pool B matches against Japan, India and Great Britain.

Great Britain (WR: 7) joined USA at the top of Pool B by defeating India (WR: 13) 3-0, making it two wins from two for the London 2012 Olympic bronze medallists. All three of the GB goals arrived in an eight-minute burst either side of half time, with Giselle Ansley, Nicola White and Alex Danson getting their respective names on the score-sheet. Danson’s goal was the pick of the bunch, netting from close range following a dazzling dribble from FIH Rising Star of the Year 2015 Lily Owsley.

Argentina (WR: 2) and Japan (WR: 10) were in action in the final match of the day, with Las Leonas claiming their first points of the tournament with a deserved 4-0 triumph over the Cherry Blossoms. Noel Barrionuevo scored two near-identical penalty corner drag-flicks for the London 2012 Olympic silver medallists before team captain Carla Rebecchi and Maria Granatto sealed the win with close range finishes as Argentina moved up to third in the Pool B standings.

Rio 2016 Olympic Games Hockey (women) – Day 3

Results

Pool A
New Zealand 1, Germany 2; Netherlands 4, Korea 0; Spain 0, China 2.

Pool B
Australia 1, USA 2; India 0, Great Britain 3; Argentina 4, Japan 0.

Day 2

Rio 2016 Olympic Games – Women’s Hockey: Netherlands make statement of intent on Day 2
Paumen strikes twice as reigning champions Netherlands defeat Spain
New Zealand’s Black Sticks prove too strong for Korea
India Eves claim draw in first Olympic match since 1980 Moscow Games

7 August 2016 – Day 2 (women): The second day of women’s hockey action at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games saw defending champions the Netherlands make a statement of intent with a big win, while New Zealand’s Black Sticks also impressed at the Deodoro Hockey Stadium.

In the first Pool A match of the day, New Zealand (FIH Hero World Ranking: 4) made a sparkling start to their Olympic campaign with a high-quality 4-1 victory against Korea (WR: 8). Kirsten Pearce, Charlotte Harrison and Gemma Flynn were all on target for the Black Sticks ahead of half time before Petrea Webster made it 4-0 shortly after the break. Kim Hyunji snatched a consolation goal for the Koreans late in the game, although the Asian champions would surely have registered more were it not for some fine goalkeeping from New Zealand’s Sally Rutherford. “We’re definitely happy with the win”, said Black Sticks Head Coach Mark Hager after the match. “We were very good early on and fell away a bit after half time but it’s good to come away with a result first up.”

The Netherlands (WR: 1) needed just 23 minutes to establish a four goal lead in their opening Pool A fixture, crushing Spain (WR: 14) 5-0 as the reigning Olympic champions from both Beijing 2008 and London 2012 sent out a clear statement of intent. FIH Hockey Stars Player of the Year 2015 Lidewij Welten opened the match scoring in the 11th minute before Laurien Leurink, Marloes Keetels and Maartje Paumen added another three goals in rapid fashion to effectively kill the game midway through the second quarter. Double Olympic gold medallist Paumen completed the scoring in the final quarter with her second goal of the game, putting her side top of Pool A on goal difference.

In the final Pool A match of the day, 2004 Olympic champions Germany made a superb start in their match against 2008 Olympic silver medallists China, with Lisa Altenburg needing less than four minutes to give Die Danas a 1-0 lead. However, Peng Yang’s equalizer just before half time proved to be enough for China to take a share of the points as the match finished with the scores locked together at 1-1.

As well as a full schedule of Pool A matches, there was also action in Pool B as Japan (WR: 10) and India (WR: 13) got their Olympic campaigns underway with a 2-2 draw. The Cherry Blossoms went into half time with a 2-0 lead thanks to efforts from Emi Nishikori and Mie Nakashima, but India’s Eves hit back 31 seconds into the third quarter, with super-striker Rani getting the goal. Lilima Minz restored parity towards the end of the third quarter, ensuring that India’s women claimed a point in their first Olympic appearance since the Moscow 1980 Games.

With one round of matches complete, Great Britain and USA currently lead the charge at the top of Pool B thanks to their victories on day 1.

Results

Pool A
New Zealand 4, Korea 1; Netherlands 5, Spain 0; China 1, Germany 1.

Pool B
Japan 2, India 2

Day 1

Rio 2016 Olympic Games – Women’s Hockey: USA & Great Britain triumph on Day 1
Two women’s Pool B matches kick off Rio 2016 Olympic hockey competition
Reinprecht and Kasold strikes give USA victory over Pan-Am rivals Argentina
Danson hits winner as Great Britain defeat Australia’s Hockeyroos

6 August 2016 – Day 1 (women): The women’s hockey competition at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games got underway on Saturday, with two absorbing matches taking place on the opening day at the Deodoro Hockey Centre.

All of the action took place in Pool B, with USA (WR: 5) kicking things off in style by upsetting the FIH Hero World Rankings with a 2-1 win over in-form Pan American rivals Argentina (WR: 2). Following a goal-less opening two periods, Pan-Am champions USA took control of the game with strikes in the third and fourth quarters from Katie Reinprecht and Michelle Kasold. Delfina Merino hit back late in the game for Las Leonas, the silver medallists from London 2012, but it proved to be only a consolation as the Americans held on for a crucial victory.

In the day’s other Pool B match, Great Britain (WR: 7) also turned the rankings upside down with a fine 2-1 victory over Australia’s Hockeyroos (WR: 3). Lily Owsley produced a sublime finish at the end of a flowing move to give Team GB a 1-0 lead at half time, only for Australia to hit back shortly after the break thanks to Georgina Morgan’s fierce penalty corner drag-flick. Alex Danson hit the winner in the 42nd minute, smashing home a powerful back-hand effort to give the London 2012 bronze medallists maximum points against the champions of Oceania.

The remaining eight competing women’s teams will all be in action on day 2 (Sunday). In Pool A, New Zealand (WR: 4) and Korea (WR: 8) will go head-to-head; reigning World and Olympic champions the Netherlands (WR: 1) begin their quest for a third successive Olympic gold medal against 1992 Olympic champions Spain (WR: 14), while 2008 Olympic silver medallists China (WR: 6) take on Germany (WR: 9), the Olympic champions of 2004. Pool B opponents Japan (WR: 10) and India (WR: 13) will also make their Rio 2016 debuts on the second day of competition.

Results

Pool B

Argentina 1, USA 2; Great Britain 2, Australia 1