Germany took home the women’s field hockey bronze medal thanks to a third quarter surge that led to a 2-1 victory over New Zealand.
Before Germany’s overpowering third quarter, the Black Sticks came out dictating the pace of the game.
By the end of the second quarter, New Zealand had taken six shots compared to one shot taken by Germany.
However, the tempo changed when Germany came back from halftime. With a newfound energy, Germany scored the first goal of the game when Charlotte Stapenhorst slid into the circle to tip a pass into the goal.
Almost immediately, Lisa Schutze added another German goal to suddenly put her team up two goals to nil on New Zealand.
New Zealand needed something at the end of the third quarter to get back into the game, and they got that chance when they earned a penalty corner as the whistle blew for the end of the quarter.
Olivia Merry knocked a shot in that flew off of a German defender’s stick and into the goal. Germany took advantage of its video referral to challenge the shot, but ultimately it would be rejected. New Zealand was back in the game.
After struggling to convert on its opportunities for most of the quarter, the Black Sticks took out its goalkeeper in favor for an extra player on the field with just over four minutes left to play.
Desperate to avoid another shootout, Germany’s defense, led by goalkeeper Kristina Reynolds, worked overtime to clear the ball away from New Zealand every chance they had. They held onto the ball as time expired from the clock, and that would secure its bronze medal finish.
For full results of Friday’s medal matches, click here.