The Black Sticks will now play in the bronze medal game. Photo / Brett Phibbs
How do you get back up from that to play a bronze medal match? This could be the toughest two days of Mark Hager's coaching career.
The Black Sticks put in an astonishing display of gutsy, foot-to-the-floor hockey to push the Netherlands, the No 1-ranked side in the world, to
the brink in their semifinal this morning - the team eventually going down 3-1 in a shootout after the scores were level at 2-2 after extra time.
Twice the Black Sticks held the lead against a team they have never beaten at a major tournament. Twice they refused to buckle when the Dutch equalised and, at times, threatened to impose their technical superiority on the game.
However, in the shootout, that technical adroitness favoured the woman in oranje. New Zealand could only score once, through the excellent Stacey Michelsen. Tellingly, she was the only player to go to her forehand as Kayla Sharland, Gemma Flynn and finally Anita Punt faked on to their backhand and played into the strength of the Dutch keeper.
When Ellen Hoog put the shootout beyond reach - it would be the only time she would hurt New Zealand in this game - the New Zealanders looked shell-shocked. Punt especially needed comforting, but the truth is she had nothing to be ashamed of.
Nobody wearing black did.
