Hockey: Sigh of relief for injured Black Sticks star

1.00pm - By MARK GEENTY

ATHENS - Never mind star New Zealand defender Lizzy Igasan's relief at avoiding the Olympic women's hockey wooden spoon -- she is just grateful to still have the sight in her left eye.

The Black Sticks today avoided the dreaded playoff for ninth and 10th with their first victory of the tournament, 3-2 over winless Spain who get the dubious honour of playing for last.

Thanks to Igasan's cool penalty stroke in the 50th minute, it means they meet South Korea in a classification match for fifth to eighth places on Tuesday (5.30pm NZT).

North Harbour's Igasan, 21, but with 56 internationals already to her name, has been labelled New Zealand's standout of the four-match campaign to date by coach Ian Rutledge, and on bravery she almost deserves a medal too.

In the 0-3 loss to Argentina on Saturday, Igasan rushed back to retrieve a stray pass, and in a desperate attempt to cover goalkeeper Helen Clarke she took the full force of an Argentinian shot millimetres from her left eye.

"It's a scary thought. If I'd shifted a little bit it was hitting the temple, then the other way I've lost my eye," she said today.

Igasan collapsed and left the field for five stitches, returning later with a bandage covering half her face, but admitted not remembering much.

Today she was sporting a black, swollen eye and admitted her stick work wasn't that sharp, but she still defended more than ably then stepped up when it counted.

At 2-2 with 20 minutes left, she was handed the task of converting the stroke into New Zealand's first lead of the tournament.

There was added pressure, given captain Suzie Muirhead had botched New Zealand's only other stroke of the tournament when she slammed it straight at the goalkeeper in the horror 0-2 loss to Japan.

In a manner which has epitomised Igasan's international career to date, there was no drama and she did the job in style.

"We've been practising them the whole year, doing hundreds of them so it was just another shot," she said.

"It was a relief, because it's definitely a turning point in the game."

New Zealand's other two goals were from penalty corners which have caused so much grief in recent matches, one to Jaimee Provan who followed up a parried shot, and the other to Niniwa Roberts-Lang to make it 2-1 at halftime.

New Zealand, who had 37 shots on goal without success in their opening three matches, had 10 penalty corners to Spain's six, two of which they converted to set up a tense final quarter.

The New Zealand defence held, and they should have gone 4-2 up in the dying minutes but Muirhead's deflection into the net was ruled out.

Igasan reflected the relief of the side, having wandered the arena with Roberts-Lang in tears after the 0-2 loss to Japan.

"It's been a buildup of frustration the whole time we've been here and it was about time we chipped away and got some reward.

"We're going to improve our ranking so that's always a bonus. We're only a young team and we've worked really hard."

New Zealand went into the Games ranked ninth, so have already improved their ranking to at least eighth. A top-six finish will book them a coveted spot in the Champions Trophy tournament later in the year.

Mention Igasan's name to coach Ian Rutledge and he doesn't hold back in his assessment.

"She's been our player of the tournament and one of the best here. At 21 she's had an exceptional Olympics already," Rutledge said.

"She was extremely brave to turn up and play well again after what happened."

- NZPA