A solid performance including two excellent goals saw Scotland Aspiring Girls win 2-0 against Canada U18 Girls at Fettes, in Edinburgh.
A fairly even opening against the backdrop of Fettes and a cold March wind began to tip in Scotland’s favour. The first chance of the match went to the home side when the Scots piled into the Canadian circle, winning a penalty corner. The resulting low effort was well blocked low at the left post.
Scotland made no mistake at their next penalty corner opportunity. In the closing moments of the first corner the Scots took the lead when Sarah Hill blasted a shot from the top of the circle into the bottom right corner for 1-0.
The Scots came out fast in the second quarter and caused Canada a multitude of problems through attacks down the right side. One swift attack early in the quarter saw the ball zipped across the face of goal, but it evaded all Scottish sticks looking to tap home.
The Canadians reminded Scotland of their threat from a penalty corner of their own, and it prompted a good rebound save by Lucy Brown with her leg guards.
Early in the third quarter Hill, who had looked composed at the back throughout the match, nearly bagged her second corner strike of the match, but found another powerful effort well saved low at the right post.
Good Scottish pressure ensued, and Canada struggled to get out of their own half. The pressure almost fashioned the second goal when Darcy Littlefield quickly turned to shoot on the backhand, but was denied by another solid save.
Then, another warning for Scotland at the end of the quarter, when a penalty corner effort cracked against the post as Canada looked to provide a sucker punch.
Lexie Macmillan was impressive throughout the contest and seemed on a personal mission to score in the final quarter. First, a mazy solo run down the left ended with a looping shot landing just wide of the right post.
Then Macmillan was denied again by a superb point-blank range save in the middle of the goal.
As the match neared its conclusion, Macmillan got her goal. A hard pass from the right was deflected into the air by Tallulah McMorris, and it allowed Macmillan to slam dunk the ball towards goal, and into the net for 2-0, which was how it finished.
The teams meet again tomorrow at Peffermill at 3pm to complete the two-match series.
