Hockeyroos hold firm to sink India in 3-2 thriller

The Hockeyroos have reignited their FIH Pro League campaign, delivering a commanding performance to secure a 3–2 victory over India in London, and their first win on European soil this season.
    
After two narrow defeats to world number one, the Netherlands, Australia bounced back with confidence and composure, producing three quarters of dominant, high-tempo hockey before withstanding a late Indian surge.
    
With the scores deadlocked at nil-all after the first quarter, the Hockeyroos truly took control, launching a second-quarter blitz that delivered two quick goals. 

WA's Courtney Schonell opened the scoring with a superb finish off a perfectly weighted pass from Grace Stewart to score her fourth international goal of the year.
    
Just minutes later, it was Schonell's Perth Thundersticks teammate Lexie Pickering who doubled the lead with a moment to remember, scoring her first international goal in just her third appearance for Australia.
   
"India's referral added a little bit of stress!" Lexie reflected post-match.
  
"I was just waiting on the sideline, hoping that they would call it a goal, and thankfully, they did. It felt amazing to get that first goal away, and I'm confident it's the start of many more to come."
  
The momentum continued into the third quarter when Queensland's Tatum Stewart extended the lead to 3–0 with a trademark drag flick off the penalty corner, showcasing the specialist skill that has become her hallmark.
  
"After our first two Dutch games, we had a lot of meetings and it's nice to see that a lot of the principles we discussed were on display early in the game today," Lexie added.
 
"India is quite a chaotic, frenzy-like team, so it's important we don't get drawn into that and we know our roles and have the confidence to look quickly to the next thing when it doesn't go our way. We'll be looking to do that again tomorrow and keep our composure."
 
India forced the Hockeyroos to do just that in the final half of the match, when they picked up momentum after scoring right before the third-quarter time break.
 
The goal sparked a spirited Indian fightback, and the pressure only mounted when they struck again from a penalty corner early in the fourth, closing the gap to just one goal.
 
With India surging in confidence and attacking with renewed purpose, Australia was forced to dig deep in defence to protect their narrow lead. Nerves were tested with a late and vital penalty corner for India, but the Hockeyroos held firm to clasp the 3-2 win.
 
"We didn't make it easy for ourselves in the end there!" Player of the Match Alice Arnott told 7plus.
 
"But I'm incredibly proud of us and of that win. We got a bit frantic towards the end and that's been a key focus of ours, to stay calm in crucial moments, especially when we have a lead, so I know that will be another big focus for us again tomorrow."
 
The Hockeyroos are back in action tomorrow night, when they take on India at Lee Valley Hockey Stadium in London at the prime time of 5.30pm AWST / 7.30pm AEST, live and free on 7plus.
    
Full FIH Pro League fixtures & results

Hockeyroos v India
Hockeyroos: 3 (Courtney Schonell 16" (FG) Lexie Pickering 22" (FG) Tatum Stewart 35" (PC))
India: 2 (Deepika 44" & Neha 52")
Lee Valley Hockey Stadium, London

Hockeyroos: 1. Claire Colwill, 5. Grace Young, 7. Aleisha Power (gk), 9. Maddi Smith, 11. Alice Arnott, 12. Greta Hayes, 13. Hattie Shand, 15. Kaitlin Nobbs, 16. Courtney Schonell, 18. Alana Kavanagh, 20. Karri Somerville, 21. Jade Smith, 22. Tatum Stewart, 24. Mariah Williams, 25. Zoe Newman (gk), 26. Lexie Pickering, 30. Grace Stewart, 45. Jesse Reid

Hockeyroos FIH Pro League UK/Europe Tour Schedule

London, England
Sunday, 15 June – 7.30pm AEST / 5.30pm AWST – India v Hockeyroos
Tuesday, 17 June – 8.00pm AEST / 6.00pm AWST - England v Hockeyroos
Thursday, 19 June – 2.45am AEST / 12.45am AWST - England v Hockeyroos

Berlin, Germany
Sunday, 22 June – 12.30am AEST / 10.30pm AWST (Saturday, 21 June) – Germany v Hockeyroos
Sunday, 22 June – 10.00pm AEST / 8.00pm AWST – Germany v Hockeyroos