GB ready to bounce back despite third Champions Trophy defeat

BySportsbeat

Published 23/06/2016 at 22:07 GMT

Alex Danson has vowed Great Britain women's hockey team will bounce back stronger after slipping to a 2-0 defeat at the hands of USA in the Champions Trophy on Thursday.

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The result means GB now require a three-goal win over Australia on Saturday in order to reach Sunday's bronze medal match at the Lee Valley Hockey Centre.

The team have drawn one and lost three of their four matches this week to sit bottom of the six-team table but can still put themselves in a position to win bronze with a heavy victory over the Hockeyroos.

Against the USA, the hosts were locked at 0-0 following an even first half but goals from Emily Wold and Kat Sharkey after the interval were enough for the visitors to record their first win at the tournament.

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Both sides had chances in the first two quarters with goalkeepers Maddie Hinch and Jackie Briggs repeatedly called into action but Hinch could do nothing about the United States' quick-fire double in the third quarter.

Michelle Vitesse found Wold who dabbed in the opener and when USA won a penalty corner shortly afterwards, a deft deflection from Sharkey made it 2-0.

Danson, Lily Owlsey, and Giselle Ansley all forced further saves from Briggs in the fourth quarter but GB failed to make the breakthrough.

And while Danson concedes the side are frustrated with the result, she claims there is still a genuine belief that a turnaround is imminent.

"We're obviously very disappointed with the result and I guess when you play the top six teams in the world it is small margins," she said.

"The one thing about this group is that we're so close and we haven't lost any faith or belief in what we do.

"This is a journey towards the next tournament so we will come out fighting in our next game.

"The Champions Trophy is one of the best platforms – we're seeing the best teams day-in and day-out, we've got a lot of training time and we're a very, very professional unit.

"We know we can do it on the field and we will show that in the next game and show that in the next few weeks to come.

"This is all about building and we haven't lost belief, which is key to this team."

Sportsbeat 2016

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