Indian eves play out a 2-2 draw against New Zealand in second hockey Test

New Zealand, November 6, 2014:  Indian Junior Women Hockey Team put up a tough fight in the ongoing series against New Zealand today and held the hosts 2-2 in their second match of the six-match test series being played at the TET Multisports Centre, Stratford. 

The junior black sticks women had a good start to the game as Kelsey Smith scored the initial goal of the match, giving the hosts a lead of 1-0 in the first half itself. India made desperate attempts to score but, given the strong defense line of the opponents, could not succeed in putting the ball in the net. At the end of the first half the scores stood at 0-1, indicative of a trail for India.

The second half saw Indian women fighting back with all strength, as a result of which a close range goal from the stick of forward Anupa Barla leveled the score for India. The match intensified further after the leveler as both the teams looked for creating more scoring opportunities.

Soon, India was awarded a penalty corner and Jaspreet Kaur, leaving no room for mistakes, flawlessly converted the opportunity into a goal, low to the New Zealand’s keeper’s right, taking the score to 2-1. In next to no time, Rachel McCann of New Zealand tied the game with another field goal 12 minutes from the final hooter, thus equalizing the scores.

In the last quarter of the game both the teams managed to create a few new scoring chances but could not materialize the opportunity and at the end of the game the scoreboard showed a score of 2-2, indicating a draw.

HI Press release