In the double round-robin event, the 20 and under team could not beat the strong USA Born 1988 team in their two encounters, needing a big win in yesterday’s final game to secure the title.
Australia bowed 8-4 in the final game while the earlier result was 11-8 in the North Americans favour.
Results:
Junior women’s Global Championship, Los Alamitos, USA:
Day 1: Australia 10 (G Ralph 3, A Brightwell, K Gofers, E Rossato 2, H Lincoln-Smith) USA Born 1991 2.
Day 2: Australia 12 (K Gofers 3, M Hammond, A Brightwell, H Lincoln-Smith 2, E Rossato, G Ralph, G Wikman) Canada 3, USA Born 1988 11 Australia 8 (H Lincoln-Smith 3, M Hammond, A Brightwell 2, K Gofers).
Day 3: Australia 13 (C Ainsworth 4, K Gofers 3, A Brightwell, G Ralph 2, E Neesham, Ricketts) USA Born 1991 4.
Day 4: Australia 15 (A Brightwell 5, K Gofers, G Ralph 3, C Ainsworth, G Wikman, Ricketts, E Rossato) Canada 5.
Day 5: USA Born 1988 8 Australia 4 (A Brightwell 2, N Zagame, G Ralph).
Final placings: USA Born 1988, Australia, Canada, USA Born 1991.

Manager's reports
Los Alamitos, USA (July 11).- The Australian B88 Junior Team started their tournament in less then ideal circumstances.  The team although coming through with a 10 -2 win the first half of the game was dreadful, drawing 1 all at the main break with the a three year younger USA Team.

Australian Team captain Danielle Bower (Balmain) had a solid performance in goals saving Australia in defence with only 2 goals passing her by.  Experience from the Global Championships tournament in Brisbane last week (born 90) saw Alicia Brightwell (Sydney Uni) have a controlled attacking game which assisted Australia to their 10 goals, converting two out of three attempts herself.

The first half of the game Australia was not awake drawing 1 all in the first and although having strong defence in the 2nd quarter, poor attack resulted in a nil all quarter.  The half time break allowed the Australian Team to refocus which then produced a 4 goal scoring streak in 5minutes during the third.  And the forth quarter gave promise to the team and confidence in the coach Phil Bower with a 5 nil score line.

The Junior Australian Team is competing against USA91, Canada and USA88 (national "B" team) in the born 88 Global Championships in Los Alamitos until 15th July.  The tournament is a 2 round format with no finals therefore every game is a must win to take out the title, Australia must improve and have a strong performance tomorrow when they face Canada in the morning and USA88 in the evening.

 

Australia 10 (Ralph 3, Brightwell 2, Gofers 2, Rossatto 2, Lincoln-Smith) defeated USA 2.

Other results USA88 defeated Canada

1st Aus 1 USA91 1

2nd AUS 0 USA91 0

3rd AUS 4 USA91 1

4th AUS 5 USA91 0

Attempts AUS 10/30 USA 2/17

Saves AUS 9/17 (Bower) USA 13/30

Exclusions AUS 3/9 USA 2/6

Penalties AUS 1/1 USA 0/2
Los Alamitos, USA (July 12).- Day two of the 6 day tournament went 50/50 for the Aussie Junior girls.  After a not so promising start the first day against the younger USA team Australia came out firing against Canada and went to a 6 nil lead in the first 5 minutes.

Canada scored in the final 46seconds of the 1st quarter, however only managed a total of 3 for the game as Australia's defence was outstanding.

Game two was against the USA born 88 team.  The older team was to be Australia's hardest match and the results showed this for the first 3 quarters going goal for goal.  Unfortunately Australia couldn't convert in extra man or execute their counter attack which lead to a 4-2 second half.  The final score being 11-8 in USAs favour.

Australia is yet to prove their full potential, the team has excellent defence however is unable to put together 4 quarters of attack to overcome their opposition.

Vice Captain Glencora Ralph (Fremantle Mariners) is leading the team well in defence with excellent centre back work. Ralph is also combining well with Brightwell and Gofers (Sydney Uni) to generate counter attack and great attacking play.

Australia 12 (Gofers 3, Hammond 2, Brightwell 2, Lincoln-Smith 2, Rossatto, Ralph, Wikman,) defeated Canada 3.

Other results USA88 defeated USA91

1st Aus 6 CAN 1

2nd AUS 3 CAN 0

3rd AUS 2 CAN 1

4th AUS 2 CAN 1


Attempts AUS 12/32 USA88 3/24

Exclusions AUS 4/8 USA88 2/8

Penalties AUS 3/3 USA88 0/0



Australia 8 (Lincoln-Smith 3, Hammond 2, Brightwell 2, Gofers) lost to USA88 11.

Other results USA91 defeated Canada

1st Aus 3 USA88 3

2nd AUS 1 USA88 2

3rd AUS 3 USA88 4

4th AUS 1 USA88 2

Exclusions AUS 3/6 USA88 4/5

Penalties AUS 1/1 USA88 0/0


Los Alamitos, USA (July 13).- Round one of the tournament has been completed with USA88 undefeated.  Australia now has a tough ask to take the title with no finals scheduled.  Australia must win against USA91 and Canada to stand a chance.  Then on the final day play USA88 and win to draw on points, however need to win by more then 4 goals to have the trophy.

A 13-4 goal line against the younger USA team was a great start to the second round.  Once again Australia's defence was great with Emma Jackson (Brisbane Barracudas) in goals.  All 11 field players in front of Jackson played hard in defence with blocks and fronting the centre forwards.

Once again Keesja Gofers (Sydney Uni) had a great game for Australia with a total of 3 goals and a remarkable number of steals and assists.  Catherine Ainsworth showed her dominance with the ball converting 4 out of 5 shots.

Australia 13 (Ainsworth 4, Gofers 3, Brightwell 2, Ralph 2, Neesham, Ricketts) defeated USA91 4.

Other results USA88 defeated Canada

 

1st Aus 4 USA91 1

2nd AUS 3 USA91 3

3rd AUS 3 USA91 1

4th AUS 3 USA91 1

Attempts AUS 13/38 USA91 3/24

Exclusions AUS 4/7 USA91 2/6

Penalties AUS 3/3 USA91 0/3

Los Alamitos, USA (July 14).- Australia although not having a great game, they came through with a win against Canada in round 2 of the tournament.

Alicia Brightwell (Sydney Uni), had a remarkable game.  Her strong defence and never say die attitude in attack gave Australia what they have been looking for all week in the tournament.  Glencora Ralph (Fremantle Mariners) joined Brightwell in the scoring from the left side of the pool, giving Australia the missing link to there attack, a strong left hander.

The Australian Team is still having issues with their attack and finishing off counter attack and converting in extra man attack.  With only one game remaining and it being the decider of the tournament Australia has no time left to work things out.  With no finals Australia must beat USA88 by more then 4 goals to take the title.

Australia 15 (Brightwell 5, Gofers 3, Ralph 3, Ainsworth, Wikman, Ricketts, Rossatto) defeated Canada 5.

Other results USA88 defeated USA91

1st Aus 2 CAN 0

2nd AUS 5 CAN 2

3rd AUS 3 CAN 3

4th AUS 5 CAN 1

Attempts AUS 15/33 CAN 5/15

Exclusions AUS 2/9 CAN 0/6

Penalties AUS 0/0 CAN 0/0

 
Australia lost to USA88 4 to 8.  Details to follow.
 
Born 1988 or Younger Global Championships Final Placings
1st USA88
2nd Aust
3rd Can
5th USA91

 
Not pretty but Aussie Juniors open with victory
Los Alamitos, USA (July 11).-
The Australian B88 Junior Team started their tournament in less then ideal circumstances.  The team although coming through with a 10 -2 win the first half of the game was dreadful, drawing 1 all at the main break with the a three year younger USA Team. Australian Team captain Danielle Bower (Balmain) had a solid performance in goals saving Australia in defence with only 2 goals passing her by.  Experience from the Global Championships tournament in Brisbane last week (born 90) saw Alicia Brightwell (Sydney Uni) have a controlled attacking game which assisted Australia to their 10 goals, converting two out of three attempts herself.

The first half of the game Australia was not awake drawing 1 all in the first and although having strong defence in the 2nd quarter, poor attack resulted in a nil all quarter.  The half time break allowed the Australian Team to refocus which then produced a 4 goal scoring streak in 5minutes during the third.  And the forth quarter gave promise to the team and confidence in the coach Phil Bower with a 5 nil score line.

The Junior Australian Team is competing against USA91, Canada and USA88 (national "B" team) in the born 88 Global Championships in Los Alamitos until 15th July.  The tournament is a 2 round format with no finals therefore every game is a must win to take out the title, Australia must improve and have a strong performance tomorrow when they face Canada in the morning and USA88 in the evening.

Result: Australia 10 (Ralph 3, Brightwell 2, Gofers 2, Rossatto 2, Lincoln-Smith) defeated USA 2.

Other results USA88 defeated Canada

1st Aus 1 USA91 1
2nd AUS 0 USA91 0
3rd AUS 4 USA91 1
4th AUS 5 USA91 0
Attempts AUS 10/30 USA 2/17
Saves AUS 9/17 (Bower) USA 13/30
Exclusions AUS 3/9 USA 2/6
Penalties AUS 1/1 USA 0/2

Aussie Juniors beat USA in California
San Diego, USA (July 11).—
The Australian Born 1988 Junior Women's Team have started with a 9-8 win in the US, playing an exhibition game in San Diego last night (6 July) before the Australian and USA Olympic Teams clashed.

Arriving 2 days prior and only having 2 session as a team, the girls went goal for goal with the US Junior Team in a heavy battle.