In a win-and-in scenario on the final day of Pool B action, Wales narrowly edged the Haudenosaunee, 8-6, to claim a spot in the playoffs at the women’s U20 championship in Hong Kong, China.
Wales finished pool play with a 3-1 record and the second place spot in Pool B.
Update
The Welsh will play in the quarterfinals on Wednesday as the No. 6 seed against Australia, the No.3 seed. That matchup is the first game of the day on Wednesday, at 8:30 a.m. HKT.
Both teams were up for the moment despite the fraught atmosphere at Hong Kong Football Club Stadium. The score seesawed with the Haudenosaunee scoring first, followed by two-goal runs from each side.
Wales’ late-clock management at the end of quarters proved beneficial, with a goal coming from Phoebe Hurt with 15 seconds left in the first quarter to tie it at 3-3.
In a slow-paced, methodical game that saw just two goals over the next 14 minutes, Wales’ second late goal with seconds left in the second quarter brought a jolt of momentum into halftime. Florence Rodgers snuck in front of goal at point-blank range on an assist from Jenny Lomas on a free position restart.
Hurt scored the first goal of the third quarter just under four minutes in to give Wales a two-goal lead, which felt larger than that with the rate of goals in the game.
The Haudenosaunee found a goal from Mia Mitchell to cut it to one, and the rest of the third quarter was tight. But for the third time, Wales ended the quarter with a goal, another from Hurt with seconds left in the period.
The possession game became crucial and the Haudenosaunee goal from Chloe Luther to finally cut it to one halfway through the fourth quarter was massive.
The game could have swung either way from that juncture, but in the end Hurt set up Phoebe Jones with under four minutes to play to restore the two-goal cushion, and Wales saw out the result.
Olivia Downs-Haskell denied the Haudenosaunee with timely saves throughout the game, finishing with nine saves on 15 shots faced, including three in the fourth quarter after the Haudenosaunee won all three draw controls in the frame.
Hurt finished with three goals and an assist. Carys Ward was named the player of the match for Wales.
Mia Mitchell scored three of the Haudenosaunee’s six goals and Avery Doran added two. Paisley Cook was outstanding with 9 of 15 draw controls, four ground balls and four caused turnovers.
The Haudenosaunee finished in third place in the pool with wins over Korea and Chinese Taipei. They will face China at 7 p.m. on Wednesday in placement play.
