Scotland U21 women draw with Ireland before shootout win

Scotland U21 Women 1-1(4-2) Ireland U21 Women

Scotland U21 Women drew 1-1 with Ireland U21 Women in the first of three matches at the Glasgow National Hockey Centre. The resulting shootout ended up in a 4-2 victory for the Scots.

It was a patient start to the contest for Scotland as they set about building from the back. Neave Halliday was spraying the ball from side-to-side but the Scots found Ireland well structured.

A good low save to the left by Maddie Boyce, from an Ireland penalty corner late in the quarter, kept the scores level with the first real chance in the match.

The opener came in the second half and it went to the Irish. A swift counter attack saw a pass zipped up the middle of the pitch for a one-on-one, and it was finished with composure for 1-0.

Scotland kept building from the back but couldn’t fashion a clean opportunity to get back on level pegging, and the first half ended with Ireland in front.

Ava Wadsworth came close to an equaliser for Scotland early in the second half through a fierce penalty corner strike from the top of the circle. The ball looked like it would bounce high off the goalkeeper into the net, but a defender was on hand to bat the ball clear.

Keira Foster was next to strike at goal for Scotland but her powerful effort from a tight angle was well blocked by the goalkeeper.

Scotland ramped up the intensity in the final quarter and pinned Ireland back. Marianna MacLean and Cat Nelli piled on the pressure in attack only to be thwarted by last-ditch defending.

The equaliser was well deserved when it arrived, and it was a near post deflection into the roof of the net by Ava Smith that made it 1-1.

The game ended all square and the resulting shootout saw Scotland clock up a 4-2 win. The two meet again tomorrow at 12:30pm at the Glasgow National Hockey Centre.

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