There is a new gold medalist in women’s field hockey.
Great Britain claimed the gold medal after defeating the Netherlands 2-0 in a historic sudden death shootout win.
With time winding down and the pressure increasing, it was anybody’s game with the score tied at three all.
Great Britain’s Nicola White scored the game-tying goal on a rebound off of a penalty corner that would ultimately send the two teams into a shootout.
Maddie Hinch against Joyce Sombroek: Two of the best goalkeepers in the world, and the top two performers in this Olympic tournament.
Both teams were scoreless two shots in until Sombroek committed a penalty. Helen Richardson-Walsh got the do-over penalty stroke that put Great Britain ahead 1-0.
Hinch put Great Britain in the position to win it in sudden death, and her teammate Hollie Webb scored the dagger that would end the dominant reign of the Netherlands, which was looking for its third consecutive gold medal in Rio.
It was a back-and-forth battle between these two through and through.
After Hinch blocked a penalty stroke from Maartje Paumen in the opening minutes of the game, Great Britain took advantage.
They jumped to an early lead when Sophie Bray took the ball right into the circle for a shot, and Lily Owsley scored off of the rebound.
Immediately into the second quarter, Kitty Van Male chipped a shot past Hinch to even the score. Paumen then found redemption from the blocked penalty stroke when she converted on a penalty corner to give the Dutch a 2-1 lead.
However, Great Britain replied with a Crista Cullen goal. She tied it up at two goals each heading into halftime.
Keeping with the mercurial nature of the game, the Netherlands went back up again after Van Male received the pass on a penalty corner and put it right into the cage. White would tie the game and send it into shootout where Great Britain would make history, winning its first ever gold medal.
Great Britain took home bronze four years ago in London, and the team only had its eyes on gold in Rio, made evident by its undefeated tournament record.
The Netherlands were the heavy favorites heading into the Olympic tournament. The Dutch will claim the silver medal, making it the country’s eighth overall medal in women’s field hockey.
For full results of Friday’s gold medal match, click here.