Scotland claimed three goals in eight minutes to secure top spot in their pool and march into the semi-finals of the EuroHockey Championship II at Glasgow’s National Hockey Centre.
Jennifer Eadie, Sarah Jamieson and a penalty stroke from Kate Holmes was enough to see off Austria who exceeded expectations by finishing second in Pool B.
The Scots now face Poland who were runners-up to Italy in Pool A on Friday (5pm) and victory will secure promotion back to the top tier of European women’s hockey.
Scotland earned nine points from three wins in their three outings in the qualifiers, scoring 13 goals and conceding two.
That is the best record for a team in the event. Poland earned five points from their three games, drawing two fixtures and winning one, scoring eight goals and conceding two.
Eadie, a Glasgow Western player, opened the scoring by cutting in from the right and slamming the ball home after eight minutes.
Former Inverleith and Grove Menzieshill player Sarah Jamieson, who has been playing hockey in Germany for the past two years with Munchner Sports Club, took advantage of a defensive mistake to score three minutes later.
And Western Wildcats star Holmes clinically slotted the ball home low and to the right from a penalty stroke to increase Scotland’s advantage.
The Austrians then packed their defence to keep the Scots out and they succeeded to finish their qualifiers with four points from their three games.
They will now meet Italy who topped Pool A with seven points from their three outings.
EuroHockey Championship II: Scotland 3, Austria 0 (at Glasgow’s National Sports Centre)
Our picture by John Preece shows Scotland in action against Ukraine earlier in the tournament
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