Great Britain women scored their biggest win in the FIH Pro League after a 5-1 win over USA at Lee Valley.
A double from Izzy Petter and second-half strikes from Sarah Robertson, Anna Toman and Ellie Rayer moved GB up to fifth in the standings. Kelsey Briddell scored a consolation for the visitors.
GB proved an experienced act and probed the US defence throughout, while goals and coach Mark Hager’s attacking philosophy suggest that his side are slowly becoming a dangerous unit ahead of the EuroHockey Championships.
Yet their overall play – 23 shots, 10 penalty corners and 46 circle entries – suggest that there was room for more.
One of GB’s standouts, Fiona Crackles, said: “We are just super happy to get so many goals. Normally we have a lot of near misses. We had real fire in our belly. We have been working hard on being ruthless.
“It’s great seeing things that we are doing in training coming together in the matchplay.”
USA captain Amanda Magadan said: “We need to take away the positives but also take the harder feedback to. Great Britain are one of the best in the world, so that is who we want to play.”
Earlier, Great Britain men scored inside the last-minute with a deft, angled touch from Rupert Shipperley as the hosts secured a 2-2 draw against Spain. But the visitors then held firm in the shoot-out, Quico Cortes handing Spain a bonus-point win with a 3-1 win.
Alvaro Iglesias and Jose Basterra underlined Spain’s attacking intent to hand them a 2-0 lead in normal time before Liam Ansell pulled one back with a fine PC strike.
The double header will continue for both sides on Sunday.
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