Hockey: Black Sticks earn bronze

The Black Sticks Women have won the bronze medal at the Champions Trophy in Amsterdam today helped by a last minute goal from Charlotte Harrison.

Playing Korea in the bronze medal match, the Black Sticks won 3-2 thanks to goals in the first half from Katie Glynn and Krystal Forgesson and a last minute goal from Charlotte Harrison. It is the first medal the Black Sticks Women have won at a Champions Trophy.

"It was probably a match we were lucky to come away with in the end, but I'm so pleased for players like Kayla Sharland and Emily Naylor. They are stalwarts of New Zealand hockey and have been in the team for a long, long time. The team deserves this," says Black Sticks Women's coach Mark Hager.

The Black Sticks had the majority of the possession in the opening ten minutes of the game, they were settled and considered on attack and turned over the ball well on defence.

In the 13th minute, the Black Sticks were awarded two penalty corners in quick succession and Katie Glynn scored off the second one with a cracking direct shot that went straight to the back of the net.

Less than a minute later, the Black Sticks were celebrating again when Krystal Forgesson showed her skill with a good attacking move in the circle that earned her the space she needed to score and stretch the lead to 2-0.

In the 28th minute the Koreans were awarded a penalty corner but goal keeper Sally Rutherford made a superb save and the defenders cleared the ball.

The score at half time was 2-0 to the Black Sticks but the second half proved challenging for the Kiwis with few opportunities to score. From the opening moments of the second half, Korea had a few cracking shots at goal, but they either went high or wide.

However, Korea continued to apply the pressure and they eventually had success in the 42nd minute when Kim Jong Eun weaved her way along the baseline and struck the ball through the legs of goal keeper Rutherford.

Black Stick Stacey Michelsen poorly challenged the ball outside the circle and the consequence was a yellow card as well as Korea being awarded a penalty corner. Kim Jong Eun took full advantage and took a punishing hit which saw the ball go straight to the back of the net.

With the game was all tied up with 14 minutes remaining, Korea continued to be the dominant team in this half, creating numerous opportunities but struggling to convert.

The Black Sticks had few opportunities, and the one that ultimately became the most crucial was in the dying seconds of the game when there was a scramble in front of the goal and Charlotte Harrison saw the chance, diving to get to the ball, and tapping it over the line. With the Black Sticks Men's team in the stands supporting the team and good local support from the crowd, there was no shortage of celebration.

The Black Sticks depart Amsterdam tomorrow with all team members returning home to play in the National Hockey League.

- HERALD ONLINE