Heather McEwan (pictured) threw herself at a ball fed in from Sarah Jamieson following a free hit and just failed to connect. The ball flew past the diving US goalkeeper and into the net, but that split second cost Scotland’s women’s hockey team.
Scotland had withdrawn their goalkeeper giving them 11 outfield players and had the South African-born player touched the ball then the scoreline would have read 3-3 with 2min 19sec of a tense, physical clash in Wavre remaining.
Sadly, Scotland failed to grab what could have been a vital goal as they returned to the top table of women’s international hockey for the first time in 24 years. The faces of the players at the final whistle spoke volumes.
It was a target game for the Scots, ranked No 14 in the world, against a nation rated No 11, and the Tartan Hearts through everything at America in the dying seconds of their World Cup, Group B, clash in Belgium.
They failed to net and remain at the bottom of the four-strong group with Argentina, the world No 2, to come on Wednesday at the same venue (push back 10.00, BBC Alba iPlayer), following Saturday’s 3-0 defeat to Germany, ranked No 5 in the world.
The American combine have now won five of the meetings between the sides. Scotland have won three, and the US started on the front foot, forcing the blue shirts back.
It was no surprise when 17-year-old Reese D’Ariano netted after 3min 27sec. The teenager was left unmarked at the top of the D and let fly with a reverse stick shot. Goalkeeper Jess Buchanan dived but was beaten on her right and the ball flew onto the backboard.
A blow, certainly, but Olympian Sarah Robertson, Scotland’s captain, levelled after 9min 08sec following a penalty corner, the ball returning to the injector who made no mistake, firing low.
A defensive lapse allowed Sophia Gladieux to put the US side ahead for a second time after 23min 15sec, and the scoreline became 3-1 when Mia Schoenbeck scored after 38min 06sec.
Olympian Amy Costello pulled one back from a penalty corner. She fired for goal and it was deflected twice by the US, finally coming off Lauren Wadas on the line. Time: 39min 06sec and a lifeline.
The US pressurised the Scots in the final quarter, but coach Chris Duncan withdrew his goalkeeper with 4min 43sec remaining and the Tartan Hearts enjoyed the majority of the possession in the later stages, but they failed to count again.
A critical factor in this clash was the Scotland’s counters came from penalty corners, and not open play, and that is an area which needs to change as the competition progresses.
Scotland have proved that they can compete with teams above them, but it will take a supreme effort to gain anything from their clash with Argentina, however, if the US can take a point off the South Americans then maybe.
