Skipper Alex Danson remains confident England are on the path to Hockey World Cup 2018 success despite a gritty and industrious United States holding the hosts to a second 1-1 draw in a row.
On her 200th England appearance, Danson fired home a superb solo effort early in the second period for her 115th goal for England and Great Britain – equalling the record of Marjorie Pollard.
But while Danson’s strike lit up the 10,000-strong crowd packed into the Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre, it was only enough for a point as Erin Matson’s equally brilliant reverse-stick finish minutes later earned the Americans a share of the spoils.
England now know that a win against Ireland in the final Pool B game will guarantee their place in the quarter-finals.
Danson earned plaudits for the latest defining moment in a glittering international career, but England’s captain remains focused on getting the job done – and she believes her side are progressing well.
“We played some really good hockey in spells – we dominated for spells as well,” she said. “We’ve got some momentum now and we’re quietly going about our business with some really, really good play.
“This is what world cups are about, this is the magic of world cups. Every game is very tight, and every game is very difficult. We train full time and as hard as we do for games where you have to come out and win.
“So, we will recover, do our homework and will come out all guns blazing for the last game.
“It felt better tonight, there was some world class defending coming out of the back and we had some really good opportunities going forward.
“We’re building, the next game is absolutely crucial for us, but we’ll be ready.”
After a cagey opening quarter, England cranked up the pressure and Hannah Martin could have done better when she miscued her effort after winning possession with just keeper Jackie Briggs to beat.
Susannah Townsend nearly gave England the lead moments before the break in spectacular fashion – she showed bags of opportunism and skill to hook a deflected penalty corner strike goalward from over her head, but the ball cannoned back off the post.
Danson did put England ahead after the restart, weaving towards goal with menace from the right before striking low across Briggs for her record-equalling effort.
However, it was not the maiden 2018 World Cup victory England will have wanted, as Matson struck a venomous effort past Maddie Hinch to level proceedings.
Both sides pressed for a winner in an entertaining finale, but the defences held out and the points were shared.
Sportsbeat 2018