Ellie Mackenzie netted the game-clinching goal in the 2-0 victory over Canada in the FIH Nations Cup and then eyed a showdown with Japan with the focus now on securing Scotland’s highest ever world ranking.
The Surbiton player slammed the ball home after 41 minutes, seven minutes after Watsonians striker Sarah Jamieson had broken the deadlock in a game Scotland dominated from the first whistle.
The result means the Tartan Hearts retain their status in the FIH Nations Cup, the second tier of world women’s hockey, and they earned an astonishing 15 penalty corners during the 60 minutes.
They failed to make them count and Canada, ranked No 17 in the world, one place behind Scotland, almost made them pay. They had two breakaways in which they missed a golden chance and Scotland goalkeeper Jessica Buchanan denied them on the other.
The Tartan Hearts also survived a late scare when they were down to ten with Fran Lonergan (Western Wildcats) yellow carded, but they kept their cool to subdue their desperate opponents.
Mackenzie said: “This was a really important win for us. A win against Japan (on Sunday) would earn us our highest ever ranking. Today, we got the result we wanted.”
This was Scotland’s second win in the event in Chile after a 2-0 success in Pool B over Korea. They also lost 3-0 to Ireland and 3-1 to New Zealand.
Earlier, Japan edged Korea 5-4 in a thriller and coach Chris Duncan will urge his squad to make one final push in a bid to secure fifth spot in the tournament in Santiago.
PICTURE: Scotland sing the National Anthem in Chile. Picture by Pam Duncan
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