Hockey: Loss to Spain shrinks finals hopes for women

By TERRY MADDAFORD

Disappointed New Zealand women's coach Ian Rutledge reflected on one that got away after his team slumped to their second defeat at the six-team Champions Challenge tournament yesterday.

The 1-0 loss to Spain left the Black Sticks with little chance of making Sunday's final, which seems likely to be contested by Spain and Germany, who got home 2-1 over the United States with, for the second time in as many matches, a last-minute goal.

Spain went ahead midway through the first spell of their match with New Zealand after goalkeeper Helen Clarke had twice saved but was unable to keep the clearance away from a Spanish stick.

"Spain played a negative style of hockey, which we weren't able to counter," Rutledge said.

"They are very much an in-your-face type of team who set out to frustrate and spoil any game plan you might have. For a team like us who prefer a free-flowing game, it was annoying we were not able to play as we wanted.

"But that is all part of competition. It has been valuable to play teams we are likely to meet in next year's Olympic qualifying tournament in Auckland.

"Spain have all their best players here, whereas we are short of our best because of injuries and unavailability.

"They push it to the letter of the law. It was disappointing they got away with so much. I'm sure had the umpires wanted to, they could have issued more than just the two green [warning] cards they gave to the Spaniards.

"It was a good lesson for us. The positive I suppose is that we conceded only one goal.

"We are definitely good enough to beat any team here."

Suzie Pearce played against Spain despite still being hampered by strained abdominal muscles.

New Zealand met Germany overnight, needing a win to keep their hopes of reaching the final alive.

They must then beat the hosts in their last game early tomorrow (NZ time) and hope other results go their way.

More realistically, New Zealand are likely to play Japan for third place.