Hockey: Black Sticks lose on penalty strokes

The New Zealand team are heartbroken after missing the bronze medal. Picture / Brett Phibbs

The Commonwealth Games knife was twisted further into New Zealand hockey hearts today as a tense penalty shootout denied the Black Sticks women a bronze medal.

England won the shootout 3-1 at a sweltering State Hockey Centre as New Zealand suffered a second cruel result within three days after their 0-1 semifinal loss to India.

England goalkeeper Carolyn Reid was the star, saving the attempts of Frances Kreft and Kayla Sharland as her English teammates coolly slotted theirs.

Michelle Hollands gave New Zealand a 1-0 advantage after England's Lisa Wooding put her side's first attempt wide.

But that was England's last miss as Kreft's was saved, Stacey Carr hit wide and Sharland was denied. England captain Kate Walsh, Crista Cullen and Chloe Rogers got their strokes past New Zealand goalkeeper Beth Jurgeleit.

"It's gut-wrenching for them, not making the final then to get themselves up to play in a positive way today is very tough," coach Ian Rutledge said. "It's a horrible way to lose."

Walsh said they always backed their goalkeeper to win them the medal.

She said: "Everybody was a little bit tense, especially in that extra time. When it came to strokes we were confident with Carolyn Reid in goal. She's going to save a couple and we just had to put ours away.

"If you've got a medal around your neck I don't really care how we won it."

The match was scoreless after 70 minutes of normal time and still 0-0 after 15 minutes of extra time.

England had more chances, 11 shots to New Zealand's eight, while the Black Sticks were messy at penalty corner time in four unsuccessful attempts.

Rutledge thought the match would be tight but didn't anticipate penalty strokes.

"We practice them, but you can't practice pressure. That's the difference. In fairness to their goalkeeper she made two very good saves.

"It's very disappointing not to finish on the medal podium. I think a momentary lapse of concentration in the India game cost us a shot at the Australians in the final."

New Zealand hammered England 4-0 on Tuesday but it was a different story today as England made a much better job of shutting them down.

Striker Krystal Forgesson, the tournament's leading goalscorer with five, had an early chance saved as New Zealand couldn't slot the early goal they needed to calm their nerves.

A dour first half ended with England having three shots to New Zealand's two.

Jurgeleit was New Zealand's second half star, making three top saves in quick succession then denying two slick England attacks in a desperate final 10 minutes.

At the other end New Zealand repeated their struggles from the India match, with teenager Charlotte Harrison by far the most dangerous attacker.

Her fearless forays into the circle earned New Zealand their two penalty corners in the second half, but both times Lizzy Igasan whacked it to the right of goal.

Extra time came and went with little drama, Honor Dillon going closest for the Black Sticks when her deflection just cleared the bar.

* In the gold medal match, Australia beat India 1-0 through a Nicole Hudson goal.

- NZPA