Tweed's Gabi Nance debuts in Hockeyroos' loss
TWEED hockey player Gabrielle Nance's Olympic debut got off to a shaky start, with her Hockeyroos' side going down 2-1 to Great Britain, in their Group B opening match this morning (AEST).
Despite controlling large parts of the match and creating the better chances, Australia were unable to take advantage and found themselves on the back foot on the scoreboard for much of the match.
Despite the loss, Nance marked her Olympic debut with a strong first quarter, where Australia were unlucky to not have taken the lead.
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The Hockeyroos had the better of the chances in the first, with a number of shots and a penalty corner, with two minutes on the clock.
Australia appealed after a ball hit a British players' leg, but play on was called, before Australia called for the referral.
The resulting penalty corner was struck strongly, but was blocked, leaving the score at nil-all at quarter-time.
The second quarter started with a stalemate, before Australia broke through for a shot which was blocked, before almost scoring from another penalty corner just two minutes later.
The Hockeyroos continued their dominance, and almost scored when Karri McMahon had a penalty corner shot saved on the line, before Grace Stewart forced a save from Great Britain keeper Maddie Hinch with six minutes to go.
After controlling much of the second quarter, the Hockeyroos went one down, after Great Britain scored a goal against the run of play, when Lilly Owsley found herself unattended in the circle with four and a half to go, for an easy put away.
Just 30 seconds later, Australia secured their third penalty corner and with four minutes left on the clock, Georgina Morgan looked to have score, but her thunderous shot cannoned into the goal post and deflected out.
Nance played a sweeping role, cutting off a number of British attacks down the middle and right wing, while also playing a part in a number of attacking moves.
Australia drew level in the third minute of the third-quarter, after Georgina Morgan slotted a penalty corner to draw Aussie level.
Australia secured their fifth penalty corner of the game at the halfway point of the third quarter, but the subsequent shot was deflected.
Britain were awarded a penalty corner with seven minutes remaining in third, which Australian captain Madonna Blythe referred. Australia lost the referral, awarding Great Britain their first penalty corner of the match. Australian keeper Jodie Kenny expertly defended the penalty corner, swatting the shot with ease.
Just one minute later, Great Britain received another penalty corner after Edwina Bone was sent off, following a foul.
After finding themselves a player down, Australia were under enormous pressure. The Hockeyroos were able to ease the pressure with attacking moves, but went 2-1 down after Great Britain's Alex Danson pierced Australia's defence to slot a reverse shot.
The scores would remain the same, with no side able to score in the final quarter, leaving Australia on the back foot heading into their next match against against the USA tomorrow (11pm local).
Nance played a strong role in her first Olympic hit-out, coming off the bench as an impact player for much of the match.
