The Hockeyroos have followed the Australian men’ hockey team out of the Rio Olympics in the quarter-final stage, going down to the New Zealand Blacksticks overnight.
The 4-2 result sees New Zealand progress to the semi-finals of the tournament, where they will meet Great Britain in the next stage.
Germany have also gone through already, with their opponent in the next round to be decided.
Although the Hockeyroos weren’t considered to be massive gold medal chances prior to the Olympics, they were still ranked third in the world and would have held internal expectations of reaching the semis.
But that was always going to be a difficult ask as New Zealand scored a goal in each of the first two quarters to get out to a 2-0 lead, one Australia never really looked like clawing back.
Australia did get a goal back in the third quarter to put life back in the game at 2-1, but when New Zealand laid on two more goals, it was only a consolation goal to Kathryn Slattery, who netted both of Australia’s, that made the scoreline somewhat respectable at 4-2.
It’s been a disappointing Olympic campaign for Australia’s two sides, who have a proud history of performing well at the Olympics.
With the men’s Kookaburras considered a strong gold medal chance before the Olympics, and the Hockeyroos right in the mix, early losses to both sides put them on the back foot.
Although the Hockeyroos did get two wins in their pool, they never looked like the threat many expected them to be.
So the Olympic journey ends for both our hockey teams in Rio.
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