The New Zealand women's shock win over Australia gives them direct entry to next year's World Cup in Argentina. Photo / Getty Images
New Zealand retained the Oceania Cup women's hockey title after a nailbiting win over Australia in the final at Invercargill.
The win gifted them direct entry into the World Cup in Argentina next August while the Australians now head to a qualifying tournament in Azerbaijan for a second chance at
making the global event.
The scores in the women's final were tied 2-2 at the end of regulation time and both sides failed to break the deadlock in golden goal extra time.
New Zealand prevailed 4-3 on strokes after Kate Mahon nailed the decider when Australia's Casey Eastham missed her second stroke of the shootout.
New Zealand, who beat Australia in the 2007 Oceania final on the Gold Coast, had to come from behind after Australia went 2-0 up.
Australia pinned New Zealand in deep defence from the outset and forced a series of penalty corners.
New Zealand goalkeeper Beth Jurgeleit and her defenders staved off seven corners before Australia's Casey Eastham turned home a rebound off the eighth.
Australia went 2-0 ahead with a well-taken field goal by Megan Rivers eight minutes into the second half.
Living off scraps of possession, New Zealand made the most of their opportunities when Clarissa Eshuis flicked home from a penalty corner 1min later.
The goal lifted the Black Sticks and, when Kayla Sharland equalised from a penalty stroke with 13min remaining, the intensity increased.
New Zealand had the better of the closing minutes, with Charlotte Harrison seeing her shot pass just wide of the left post before Australian goalkeeper Toni Cronk was forced to save another Eshuis drag flick.
Australia were a player down heading into golden goal extra time after Alison Bruce was sent off for a bad tackle on Krystal Forgesson.
Australia dominated the opening minutes of extra time to force two penalty corners but gutsy defence from the Black Sticks denied them.
Mahon was the hero of the shootout, nailing her first attempt as well as burying her second in the net for the clincher.
- NZPA
