BIRMINGHAM, Alabama, USA – Australia and Great Britain secured their spots in the semifinals on the final day of preliminary play in the women’s tournament at The World Games 2022.
Australia edged Japan, 11-8, and Great Britain eked out a 14-12 win over Israel. Both teams claimed second place in their group to round out the semifinalist quartet alongside the United States and Canada, who are undefeated and secured their berths yesterday.
The United States will face Great Britain in the first semifinal at 2 p.m. CT on Friday before Canada takes on Australia in the second semifinal at 3:30 p.m. CT.
Australia led by two heading into the fourth quarter of the first game, but Japan tied it up at 8-8 with four minutes to play. Australia came up with three clutch goals in the final three minutes to nab the crucial 11-8 win. Georgia Latch and Theo Kwas both contributed three goals and an assist. Goalkeeper Addie Cunningham was superb with 13 saves on 21 shots faced.
Negai Nakazawa scored three goals for Japan and goalkeeper Moyu Takemoto made 13 saves.
Canada finished atop Group B with a 3-0 record after defeating the Haudenosaunee, 19-7, spurred by a 9-1 second quarter. Aurora Cordingley starred with seven goals and an assist while the trio of Lauren Black, Madalyn Baxter and Annabel Child all recorded three points. Child has seven assists through three games, the second-highest total in the tournament.
Miya Scanlan and Jalyn Jimerson both registered two goals and two assists for the Haudenosaunee while Paige Crandall made 13 saves in net.
Great Britain and Israel were also tied with four minutes remaining to set up the second dramatic finish of the day. Jenni Aiton and Chess Gray scored two clutch goals in the final minutes to deliver a 14-12 win and a spot in the semifinals. Emma Oakley scored four goals and Laura Merrifield chipped in three goals and an assist. The two goalkeepers – Emilie Chandler and Katie Greenwood – combined for 12 saves on 24 shots faced.
Ilana Kofman totaled five points with two goals and three assists, and Hanna Hilcoff scored three goals on three shots.
The United States put a bow on preliminary play with a 25-6 victory over the Czech Republic after starting the game on a 10-0 run. The United States had four players record three or more points in all three of their wins, and five players do so in their last two games. Belle Smith, Madison Ahern and Danielle Pavinelle all amassed four point,s while Ellie Masera and Kasey Choma both notched three.
Anna Lottmann and Markéta Malinovská each registered four points for the Czech Republic and Malinovská brought her assist total to eight, the most in the tournament.
Broadcast info for July 14 can be found here.
July 14 Results
Japan 8, Australia 11
Canada 19, Haudenosaunee 7
Israel 12, Great Britain 14
United States 25, Czech Republic 6
July 15 Schedule
10:30 a.m. // 7th: Czech Republic vs. Haudenosaunee
12 p.m. // 5th Place: Japan vs. Israel
2 p.m. // Semifinal 1: United States vs. Great Britain
3:30 p.m. // Semifinal 2: Australia vs. Canada
A full schedule, standings and live statistics are available at TWG2022.com/results.
