Needing a three-goal win or better to advance to the playoffs, England held off Ireland, 13-8, in a tense Pool D affair on the final day of pool play at the women’s U20 championship.
England improved to 3-1 with the win and overtook Ireland on head-to-head and goal differential (in the case of a three-way tie with Japan), to lock up one of the eight playoff spots. England was the sixth team to punch its ticket to the quarterfinals in Hong Kong, China.
Update
After the conclusion of pool play on Tuesday, England finished with the No. 5 overall seed, and will take on Japan in the quarterfinals in a rematch of a dramatic pool play battle just days earlier. That game is set for 1:30 p.m. HKT.
England understood the assignment from the jump and raced out to a two goal lead at Hong Kong Football Club Stadium, but Ireland responded with two goals.
Then England seized control of the game with an 8-1 run until halftime with its array of contributors scoring in Annie Mather, Freya Moody, Molly Light and Rachael Ball.
England scored first in the second half to lead 11-3, but Ireland finally found its response and ripped off four goals in just over two minutes to cut the game to 11-7.
Needing to just claw the deficit to two, the tension could be felt throughout the stadium as Ireland surged within touching distance.
England pushed it to five but Ireland got the goal back two minutes into the fourth quarter with 13 minutes remaining to erase just two goals.
England took over the game with its athleticism and defense, with Kennedy Buntrock making three crucial saves to keep the margin at four. England managed the final minutes with ball control before adding a goal in the dying seconds to claim the result it needed.
Rachel Ball was named the player of the game with three goals and an assist to pace the England offense. Freya Moody added three goals and Moly Light had a goal and two assists.
England’s physical, tight-marking defense made a difference and Ana Green finished with four ground balls and two caused turnovers.
Kendra Harris scored four goals for Ireland and goalkeeper Stella Quilty made seven saves.
Ireland is back in action on Wednesday against Mexico at 4:30 p.m.
