U21 Jillaroos v Argentina Tests, Argentina
Australia v Argentina (1-3)
The U21 Jillaroos lost their final match against Argentina 3-1. Rosie Malone scored for Australia.
Full match report to follow shortly.
U21 Jillaroos squad - Argentina Tests
Athlete (Hometown, State)
Kristina Bates (Port Melbourne, VIC)
Lily Brazel (Baulkum Hills, NSW)
Mathilda Carmichael (Willoughby, NSW)
Savannah Fitzpatrick (Cabarita Beach, NSW) [QLD*]
Andrea Gillard (Lithgow, NSW)
Laura Gray (Goulburn, NSW)
Kate Hanna (Constitution Hill, NSW)
Greta Hayes (Maroubra, NSW)
Rene Hunter (Lithgow, NSW)
Ambrosia Malone (Gold Coast, QLD)
Gabrielle Nance (Kingscliff, NSW) [SA]
Aleisha Power (Clackline, WA)
Madi Ratcliffe (Warrnambool, VIC)
Michaela Spano (Adelaide, SA)
Grace Stewart (Gerringong, NSW)
Tina Taseska (Palmerston, ACT)
Sophie Taylor (Camberwell, VIC)
Renee Taylor (Everton Park, QLD)
*Savannah Fitzpatrick is a scholarship holder at the Queensland Academy of Sport.
U21 Jillaroos v Argentina Tests, Argentina
Australia v Argentina (3-2)
The U21 Jillaroos fought back from a two goal deficit at half time to win 3 -2 in the penultimate match of the series.
Australia created good opportunities with Kate Hanna and Madi Ratcliffe narrowly missing chances to level the score in the first quarter with Argentina who opened the scoring.
Argentina seized the initiative after quarter time and pounced on a defensive lapse in the final minute of the half to take a 2-0 lead coming into half time.
Australia came out firing after the halftime break, applying more pressure to the Argentine defence and also controlling the play more with improved ball handling. Savannah Fitzpatrick scored to tighten the match going into the final quarter.
Goalkeeper Rene Hunter made some crucial saves in the final quarter and Australia equalised with a tomahawk shot into the Argentine goal after good lead up play.
In the final minutes, Australia forced a turnover with Krissy Bates intercepting and slipping a pass to Savannah Fitzpatrick, who secured a hat-trick for the match.
U21 Jillaroos head coach Craig Victory said, "Happy to come away from the match with a win after a first half that lacked the physicality and smarts required for international hockey. We created some excellent scoring opportunities again on counter attack and our penalty corner defence was also rock solid throughout the match.
"The athletes are continually building a good learning foundation from this tour, which will culminate in another high quality hit out against a very fast and skilful opponent in our last match tomorrow."
The final match of the series will be played Wednesday evening.
U21 Jillaroos v Argentina Tests, Argentina
Australia v Argentina (2-1)
The U21 Jillaroos secured their first win of the tour with a 2-1 victory over Argentina in Buenos Aires to square the ledger in the series with two matches remaining.
Australia was defensively well organized and in attack pressed Argentina's defence, forcing turnovers and then setting up counter attacks, which resulted in a number of circle penetrations.
Australia was rewarded for their early ascendancy when Renee Taylor scored a perfectly placed drag flick from Australia’s first penalty corner.
The second quarter followed in a similar vein, with Australia controlling the play for periods and dealing well with the fast counter attacks from Argentina. Australia went 2-0 up in the second quarter, with Renee Taylor again scoring off the back of another penalty corner.
The final quarter was a torrid affair, with Argentina scoring early to make the score line 2-1. Australia worked hard to repel a number of attacks in the final 10 minutes of the match.
U21 Jillaroos head coach Craig Victory said, “It will be a physically tough last few matches here in Buenos Aires with Argentina rotating their full squad of 26 through the 6 games series, it will come down to our quality basics delivered at speed and quality adjustments to avoid contests with the ball and create as many as possible without the ball."
The U21 Jillaroos next match of the series is on Monday.
U21 Jillaroos v Argentina Tests, Argentina
Australia v Argentina (1-3)
The U21 Jillaroos went down 3-1 to Argentina in their second pool match.
Argentina earned the first penalty corner mid-way through the opening quarter, scoring with a low drag flick. Three minutes later, Argentina sealed a second strike with a well-taken field goal.
Facing a two goal deficit at quarter time, Australia started the second quarter better, however, conceded a third goal after a turnover in the defensive third.
After some positional and structural tweaks at half time, Australia stepped up the pressure and won possession in the third quarter. The team’s hard work was quickly rewarded with a backhand strike from Greta Hayes, however, it wasn’t enough to seal a second victory on the night.
U21 Jillaroos head coach Craig Victory said, “We are here in Argentina to experience playing against another of the world’s best hockey nations in their home country. The matches have been fast, skilful and even contests, so we will relish and I’m sure thrive on the challenge of the next three matches.”
U21 Jillaroos v Argentina Tests, Argentina
Australia v Argentina (3-3)
It was a fast, attacking end-to-end contest for the U21 Jillaroos and Argentina in their first test match Sunday night, which ended in a 3-3 draw on the final siren.
Argentina started the match off well, leading 2-0 coming into quarter time. The U21 Jillaroos settled and worked their way back into the match with Renee Taylor scoring off the back of a penalty corner.
Kristina Bates levelled the score coming into half time, scoring an opportunistic goal after good lead-up play.
The second half showcased a fast and skilful contest with Australia going ahead in the third quarter, thanks to a goal from Madi Ratcliffe. Leading 3-2 at three-quarter-time, Australia had chances to seal the victory, however, a final penalty corner strike hit the post.
Argentina scored a breakaway goal with three minutes remaining on the clock, levelling the score 3-3 on the final siren.
U21 Jillaroos head coach Craig Victory said, "It was a good start to our tournament after a long journey and three days of training and acclimatization. Argentina is a fast and skilful team and I was pleased with our ability to settle and get back into the game after a slow start. Structurally we improved throughout the game and we will look to continue to do so in game two."
The U21 Jillaroos' second test match against Argentina was postponed due to stormy weather. This will now take place on Wednesday night, 6pm local time.
U21 Jillaroos squad - Argentina Tests
Athlete (Hometown, State)
Kristina Bates (Port Melbourne, VIC)
Lily Brazel (Baulkum Hills, NSW)
Mathilda Carmichael (Willoughby, NSW)
Savannah Fitzpatrick (Cabarita Beach, NSW) [QLD*]
Andrea Gillard (Lithgow, NSW)
Laura Gray (Goulburn, NSW)
Kate Hanna (Constitution Hill, NSW)
Greta Hayes (Maroubra, NSW)
Rene Hunter (Lithgow, NSW)
Ambrosia Malone (Gold Coast, QLD)
Gabrielle Nance (Kingscliff, NSW) [SA]
Aleisha Power (Clackline, WA)
Madi Ratcliffe (Warrnambool, VIC)
Michaela Spano (Adelaide, SA)
Grace Stewart (Gerringong, NSW)
Tina Taseska (Palmerston, ACT)
Sophie Taylor (Camberwell, VIC)
Renee Taylor (Everton Park, QLD)
*Savannah Fitzpatrick is a scholarship holder at the Queensland Academy of Sport.