Women's World University Games wrap: Aussies finish fifth
The Australian women's team have finished fifth overall at the World University Games in Shenzhen, China after accounting for Canada 11-6 in their final Classification match.
The result mirrors Australia's fifth placed finish at the 2009 World University Games in Serbia, with coach Eddie Denis' squad finishing behind China, USA, Russia and Italy.
Top scorer for the Australians was Jo Whitehorn, while Alicia Brightwell and Jess Martin both bagged a double.
Australia
Lea Barta (c), Alicia Brightwell, Jana Liessmann, Ebony Neesham, Nanda Stoltz, Jo Whitehorn, Keesja Gofers, Maddie Morrison, Georgia Clarke, Sophie Ricketts, Gabbie Wikman, Jess Martin, Victoria Risby
Result: Australia 11 beat Canada 6
Aus scorers: Jo Whitehorn 3, Alicia Brightwell 2, Jess Martin 2, Gabbie Wikman 1, Nanda Stoltz 1, Ebony Neesham 1, Sophie Ricketts 1
Classification semi final win for women at World Unis
With captain Lea Barta brilliant in goals Australia has defeated Great Britain 11-6 in their Classification round match at the World University Games in Shenzhen, China.
The Australians started well, scoring three goals in each of the first two quarters and defending solidly to lead 6-2 at halftime.
Keesja Gofers, who narrowly missed selection in the Aussie Stingers team for last month’s FINA World Championships scored four goals for Australia, topping the scoresheet for the second game in a row.
Eddie Denis, Australia’s head coach, said his side played a well rounded game right from the outset today, allowing them to control the game’s tempo.
“We started the game extremely well today – solid in defence and dangerous in attack,” Denis said.
“This meant we could rotate our bench freely against the Great Britain side who were also tired from their late game yesterday.
“We scored in all aspects of attack and our defence was consistently good. Lea Barta was outstanding in goals today.”
Australia now takes on Canada to decide fifth and sixth places in the tournament.
Australia
Lea Barta (c), Alicia Brightwell, Jana Liessmann, Ebony Neesham, Nanda Stoltz, Jo Whitehorn, Keesja Gofers, Maddie Morrison, Georgia Clarke, Sophie Ricketts, Gabbie Wikman, Jess Martin, Victoria Risby
Result: Australia 11 beat Great Britain 6
Quarters: 3-2, 3-0, 2-3, 3-1
Extra man for: 3 from 7
Extra man defence: Great Britain scored 1 from 7
Aus scorers: Keesja Gofers 4, Jo Whitehorn 3, Georgie Clarke 2, Gabbie Wikman 1, Nanda Stoltz 1
Best Players: Lea Barta, Keesja Gofers, Jo Whitehorn, Gabbie Wikman, Georgia Clarke
Next game: Classification game against Canada on Saturday 20th August @ 3pm AEST to decide 5th and 6th
Aussie women lose quarterfinal against Italy
The Australian women’s team has lost a tense low scoring quarterfinal with Italy by a solitary goal at the World University Games in Shenzhen, China.
After matching the Italians at one goal apiece in the opening term Australia defended stoutly to restrict their opposition to just one goal each quarter for the remainder of the match but could only net two in the last period themselves leaving them with a 4-3 loss.
They will now play in the Classification stage of the tournament, taking on Great Britain in their next game.
Australian coach Eddie Denis said his team battled bravely throughout.
“Today we played a very high quality defensive game but in attack we struggled to find the right passing option and to take quality shots,” Denis said.
“We didn’t create enough extra man opportunities but the girls kept fighting until the final whistle.”
Australia
Lea Barta (c), Alicia Brightwell, Jana Liessmann, Ebony Neesham, Nanda Stoltz, Jo Whitehorn, Keesja Gofers, Maddie Morrison, Georgia Clarke, Sophie Ricketts, Gabbie Wikman, Jess Martin, Victoria Risby
Result: Australia 3 lost to Italy 4
Quarters: 1-1, 0-1, 0-1, 2-1
Extra man for: 0 from 4
Aus scorers: Keesja Gofers 2, Gabbie Wikman 1
Best Players: The whole team for defence
Next game: Classification game against Great Britain on Friday 19th August @ 12 noon AEST
Australia draw with Mexico to finish third in group
A lobbed goal by Gabbie Wikman with just 14 seconds on the clock has helped Australia salvage a 9-all draw with Mexico in their final group stage match at the World University Games in Shenzhen, China.
The teams swapped the lead throughout the see-sawing match that effectively decided third place in Group B and sent Australia into the quarter finals on Thursday against Italy who finished second in Group A.
Australian coach Eddie Denis said his team never stopped attacking in what was a hard fought battle.
“It was a well contested game,” Denis said.
“We jumped to a two goal lead early but Mexico kept pegging us back and that’s how it was the whole game with the lead changing many times.
“In the last two and a half minutes we were behind but never stopped attacking.
“A lob goal with 14 on the clock from Gabbie gave us the much needed draw.”
Australia
Lea Barta (c), Alicia Brightwell, Jana Liessmann, Ebony Neesham, Nanda Stoltz, Jo Whitehorn, Keesja Gofers, Maddie Morrison, Georgia Clarke, Sophie Ricketts, Gabbie Wikman, Jess Martin, Victoria Risby
Result: Australia 9 drew with Mexico 9
Quarters: 2-2, 1-1, 1-2, 5-4
Extra man for: 3 from 9 and 1 from 1 5M penalty
Extra man defence: Mexico scored 3 from 3
Aus scorers: Gabbie Wikman 3, Joanne Whitehorn 2, Alicia Brightwell 1, Keesja Gofers 1, Georgia Clarke 1, Jana Liessmann 1
Best Players: Gabbie Wikman, Alicia Brightwell, Jo Whitehorn, Keesja Gofers
Next game: Quarter final against Italy on Thursday 18th August @ 12 noon AEST
Aussie women claim first World Uni Games win over France
Australia’s women’s team has claimed the first win of their World University games campaign in Shenzhen with a 15-6 thrashing of France.
Despite a slow start where they trailed the French 2-0 at the first break, Australia piled on six goals to two in the second period and then a stunning seven unanswered goal onslaught in the third quarter to ensure the win.
Alicia Brightwell scored five, bringing her tally to ten from three games, whilst Jo Whitehorn and Keesja Gofers each netted a treble.
Australian coach Eddie Denis said his team’s defence was the building block for the comprehensive victory.
“This was a really positive win,” Denis said. “We demonstrated very good defence throughout the whole game and this gave us the right platform to attack from.
“Our extra man attack goals were more decisive which was reflected in our higher extra man scoring rate.”
Sophie Ricketts, who is playing in her second World University Games tournament after helping Australia to fifth place in Serbia in 2009 said the team was happy to have been able to increase their shooting percentages and score so many goals.
“It felt good to finally get our shots inside the goal,” Ricketts said.
Australia
Lea Barta (c), Alicia Brightwell, Jana Liessmann, Ebony Neesham, Nanda Stoltz, Jo Whitehorn, Keesja Gofers, Maddie Morrison, Georgia Clarke, Sophie Ricketts, Gabbie Wikman, Jess Martin, Victoria Risby
Result: Australia 15 beat France 6
Quarters: 0-2, 6-2, 7-0, 2-2
Extra man for: 8 from 14 and 1 from 1 5M penalty
Extra man defence: France scored 1 from 7
Aus scorers: Alicia Brightwell 5, Joanne Whitehorn 3, Keesja Gofers 3, Georgia Clarke 2, Jana Liessmann 1, Gabbie Wikman 1
Best Players: Alicia Brightwell, Jo Whitehorn, Keesja Gofers, Lea Barta
Next game: Mexico on Tuesday 16th August
Alicia Brightwell scored 11 goals in Australia's first four games
Russia too good for Aussie women at Uni Games
The Australian women’s team has suffered a second successive defeat at the World University Games in Shenzhen, China after losing 9-5 to Russia.
The Russians dominated every facet of play to claim every quarter despite three goals for Australia from Gabbie Wikman – two in extra man and a penalty.
Australian coach Eddie Denis said his side’s execution was the difference between the teams.
“We created plenty of opportunities today with 12 exclusions and three penalties but shooting skills let us down,” Denis said.
“Our focus on training over the next two days will be to improve our extra man percentages.”
Australia
Lea Barta (c), Alicia Brightwell, Jana Liessmann, Ebony Neesham, Nanda Stoltz, Jo Whitehorn, Keesja Gofers, Maddie Morrison, Georgia Clarke, Sophie Ricketts, Gabbie Wikman, Jess Martin, Victoria Risby
Result: Australia 4 lost to Russia 9
Quarters: 0-2, 2-3, 1-2, 1-2
Extra man for: 2 from 12 and 1 from 3 5M penalties
Extra man defence: Russia scored 5 from 10 and 0 from 1 5M penalties (Lea Barta saved)
Aus scorers: Gabbie Wikman 3, Alicia Brightwell 1
Best Players: Georgia Clarke, Jess Martin, Gabbie Wikman
Next game: France on Monday 15th August
Australian women’s team suffer opening game loss at Uni Games
The Australian women’s team has gone down 8-6 to the USA in their opening match of the World University Games in Shenzhen, China.
The Americans jumped out to a 3-1 opening quarter lead and had stretched their advantage to 6-3 by halftime.
The Australians then fought hard in the second half to claw back the margin, tying the third period 2-2 before claiming the last term 1-0 but it wasn’t enough.
Despite the first up loss Australian coach Eddie Denis said he was looking ahead in a positive light.
“It was good to play against this team for our first game as it brought us up to speed with the strength of the competition here,” Denis said.
“We are looking forward to Sunday’s game against Russia and a better result.”
For the Australians Alicia Brightwell was a powerhouse in attack scoring four goals. She was ably assisted by Georgia Clarke with a pair of strikes and captain Lea Barta in the cage.
The Australians are looking forward to the arrival of Ebony Neesham tomorrow to replace Patrice O’Neill who has been deemed unable to play due to Deep Vein Thrombosis in her arm.
Australia
Lea Barta (c), Alicia Brightwell, Jana Liessmann, Nanda Stoltz, Jo Whitehorn, Keesja Gofers, Maddie Morrison, Georgia Clarke, Sophie Ricketts, Gabbie Wikman, Jess Martin, Victoria Risby
Result: Australia 6 lost to USA 8
Quarters: 1-3, 2-3, 2-2, 1-0
Aus Scorers: A Brightwell 4, G Clarke
Best Players: Lea Barta, Georgia Clarke, Alicia Brightwell
Next game: Russia, Sunday 14/8
