New Zealand hockey might have found the new Mandy Smith in Canterbury striker Honor Dillon.
After the 0-0 draw with Australia in their opening game at the Indira Gandhi Gold Cup tournament in New Delhi, Dillon scored in the next three games to emerge as one of the leading goalscorers
at the tournament.
"She has been scoring consistently," said Black Sticks coach Ian Rutledge yesterday. "In recent times we have lacked a genuine goalscorer from the field. Honor might be the answer to that."
In their last pool match, New Zealand came from 0-2 to beat Malaysia 4-2 and keep their slim hopes of making today's final alive.
They trailed by two breakaway goals before Dillon scored just before halftime. Three unanswered goals - to Kayla Sharland and two to Aucklander Krystal Forgessan - in the second half ensured the Black Sticks of their second tournament win.
To reach today's final they needed hosts India to beat Australia by two goals in pool play last night.
New Zealand are more likely to play for third against either Italy or Malaysia, who too played last night with the winner going through to the bronze match and the loser eliminated.
Rutledge said the low scoring at the tournament could be attributed to the conditions.
"Very few penalty corners are being converted," he said. "Against Malaysia we won 10 but converted only one because of the water-logged conditions."
New Zealand will go into tonight's match with only 16 fit players.
Lizzie Ryan is still hampered by a twisted ankle and Canterbury defender Bridget Kight, who made her debut on the first day at the tournament, faces a spell on the sideline after firstly breaking a finger and, in yesterday's game, her hand.
Rutledge said he will now take both goalkeepers into the match and almost certainly give Anita Wawatai and Beth Jurgeleit half a game each.
He has been changing his starting lineup game-by-game.
"The major purpose in being here is to provide international experience for the new girls," said Rutledge. "We have done that and I'm sure by the time they get back to their NHL teams next week they will be the better for it."
