Another milestone cap for a Scottish player saw Becky Ward win her 150th cap for Scotland in the second match in the five-match series against Canada.
The game got off to a fast start with Canada looking sharp, Amanda Woodcroft setting the tone with an impressive solo run right at the start of the match, prompting some last-gasp Scots’ defending to prevent an early Canadian goal.
Not long after, Shanlee Johnston had a shot at goal for Canada but it was saved and easily cleared away by Scotland.
Just as the opening quarter came to a close, Canada had the ball in the back of the net. The goal was awarded and the teams lined up for the restart, but the goal was eventually ruled out and the match remained goalless at the end of the first quarter.
Scotland’s first chance to score came from a penalty corner in the second quarter but an exchange between Kaz Cuthbert and McKenzie Bell came to naught, and the danger was cleared.
Louise Campbell was next to come close to giving give Scotland the lead and she bravely drove into a challenge in the D and was unlucky not to score.
Canada took the lead just after half time when Brienne Stairs drove into the D and chipped the ball on the reverse over Lucy Camlin who had gone to ground to block the expected shot.
They nearly had a second from a penalty corner but a superb diving save by Camlin kept the ball out.
Near the end of the third quarter Canada, again, almost made it two during a flurry of goal-mouth scrambles, but Scotland’s Kerry-Anne Hastings stopped the waist-high shot on the line.
Scotland pressed in the final quarter in search of an equaliser but Canada were always dangerous on the break.
A quality save by Jess Buchanan – a ‘veteran’ now with two caps – put an end to a well worked counter attack, but moments later Canada doubled their lead when Hannah Haughn applied the finish, batting a bouncing ball into the net to give Canada to 2-0 lead.
Less than a minute later it was 3-0 when Stephanie Norlander got on the end of another loose ball following a fine counter down the right.
Scotland almost pulled one back immediately, but Charlotte Watson’s diving attempt went just wide.
With three matches to play, Canada, deservedly, lead 2-0 in the series so Scotland will have to go all out in order to pull themselves back into contention when the sides meet again on Saturday.
Images from the match will appear here over the next few days.
