Vital victory for Kiwis in Volos
- nzwaterpolo
- Aug 19, 2015
- 2 min read
NEW ZEALAND 9 vs. 5 SOUTH AFRICA
(0-2, 3-0, 1-2, 5-1)
A final quarter flurry has seen New Zealand pull a much needed victory out from underneath South Africa after the Kiwis trailed 0-2 after the first quarter. The kill wasn't clean, as both teams shared a win of two quarters each.
TEAM: Grace Tobin (2), Ema Carević, Taylor Sheehan (1), Liana Dance (2), Katie McKenty (1), Sarah Doyle, Emily Nicholson, Annabel Harman (3), Jessica Milicich, Ricci Ferigo.
New Zealand were keen to back up their senior sides' 11-3 win over South Africa at the recent Kazan World Championships, but got on the back foot in the first quarter. South Africa's Versfield and Penney got on the board first to put New Zealand two goals behind after the first period.
Jess Milicich makes a huge save for the Kiwis in their scrappy 9-5 win over South Africa (photo: Volos2015.com)
A step up in New Zealand's defence in the second quarter converted down the other end of the pool, as Grace Tobin quickly scored two impressive counter attack goals. Annabel Harman made it three goals for the quarter with a shot from range that flew past South Africa's goalkeeper Nicole James. New Zealand had redeemed themselves in the second to lead 3-2, but it was still anyone's game.
Sarah Doyle scrambles for the ball (photo: Volos2015.com)
Centreforward Liana Dance scored her fifth of the championships from her preferred position, but South Africa capitalised on New Zealand's mistakes in the third quarter to score two goals from 5 on 4 to equalise at 4-4 heading into the final quarter.
Wise words from coach Attila Biro and captain Carević saw the team come out guns blazing after the quarter break. Dance, Harman, McKenty, and then Harman again - for her third of the match - scored within two and a half minutes of one another to set up a four goal buffer with 4:10 left on the clock. South Africa's Penney pegged one back before Taylor Sheehan stood up to the mark to score her first of the championships for a 9-5 victory.
Despite earning 11 exclusions, the Kiwis only capitalised on two man-up occasions.
With this win under their belts, New Zealand claimed third spot in Group B, and will clash with Russia (second placed in Group A) for a quarterfinal spot.
New Zealand made it happen when it counted against South Africa, and learnt a lot about what they need to work on to make it happen again come their quarter final qualifier against Russia tonight at 9:40pm (NZST).
A win against Russia will see a quarterfinal clash against Italy, and a loss will mean that the Kiwis head to the 9th-12th classification round.
Russia's results from Group A: win vs. Japan 23-20, loss vs. Greece 13-16, win vs. Great Britain 22-6
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