What a spectacular game!!!
Australia have been dominate throughout their pool defeating each team with certain conviction but wellington refused to let this happen to them. With share determination and a whole lot of heart this team kept fighting all the way till the final buzzer. Kennedy Ihaka a member of the wellington side said it perfectly, "They came out fighting....but so did we."
Australia set the bench mark by taking the lead 3-1 in the first quarter and continued pushing right through the second quarter jumping 3 points after Lara Zimmerman scored with 1.51s to go until half time. Wellington responded with Megan Gill conceding a stunner from the outside taking the sore to 4-2 at half time.
Wellington happily admitted "we broke our 3rd quarter curse and came out firing, determined to win." and that they did Jaymee Graham scored first in the 3rd quarter (her second goal of the game) closing the gap to 4-3 and ensuring Wellington would get back in there with a fighting chance. But Lara Zimmerman from Australia once again stepped up to the mark and responded to increase there lead to 5-3.
After 2 even quarters 1 to 1, it was clear that Wellington was not going to back down easily. Suspense was felt throughout the crowd and it all came down to the final quarter. 45 seconds in Breanna Ward netted her first goal of the game to close the gap but then so did Australians B\Sophie Hodgson. This trend continued with Abby Cartmell from Wellington capatalising on a 6on 5 opportunity to take the score back to 5-6. Wellington earned themselves another kick out and evened the score for the first time in the match. Again we were back to goal for goal and had every spectator on the edge of their seatd. Australia once again took the lead with Sofie Pontre stepping up to the mark. With 1.18 left on the clock Wellington Coach Emily Cox called a Time Out. Game plan in tac Wellington once again tied the game at 7 all. A final opportunity for Australia with a penalty shoot out awarded with 50 seconds to go but Selina Duggan denied it with a brilliant save.
The game remained tied at 7 all.
Australia take the automatic Semi Final spot for that pool and Wellington are "pumped and ready for tomorrows quarter finals."
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