The top-ranked Argentina women’s team returned home after a three-week, nine game tour of the Oceana region. “Las Leonas” played New Zealand in three games and Australia in six.
Against New Zealand, the defending World Champions came away with a mixed bag result, earning one win, one tie and suffering one loss. Against Australia, Argentina had a little more luck, winning the series with two wins, one tie and one loss. Las Leonas also played the Australia ‘A’ team twice, winning both games by two goals.
The totals for the nine games amounted to five wins, two ties and two losses with Argentina scoring 19 goals (average 2.1 per game) and giving up 10 goals (average 1.1 per game.)
The top players in the Pacific tour, were Silvina D'Elia, Daniela Sruoga and Noel Barrionuevo, with four goals each. Delfina Merino had three goals while Rocío González Canda, Rosario Luchetti, Giselle Kañeevsky and Rocío Sánchez Moccia each found the back of the net once.
Last year, Argentina went on the similar tour of the Oceana region playing seven games on their way through New Zealand and Australia. In that series, Argentina won four, lost two and tied one game. The results on the scoreboard were also eerily similar with 14 goals scored (average of two per game) and eight goals against (1.1 per game).
Scores from the Oceania Tour
26/03/11 Argentina 1-1 Nueva Zealand (D´Elía)
28/03/11 Argentina 6-1 Nueva Zealand (González Canda, D´Elía, Barrionuevo, Sruoga y Merino -2-)
29/03/11 Argentina 1-2 Nueva Zealand (Daniela Sruoga)
01/04/2011 Argentina 2-0 Australia 'A' (D´Elía y Barrionuevo)
02/04/2011 Argentina 3-2 Australia (D.Sruoga, Barrionuevo y Merino)
04/04/2011 Argentina 3-1 Australia 'A' (D´Elía, Luchetti y Kañevsky)
05/04/2011 Argentina 3-2 Australia (D.Sruoga, Barrionuevo y Sánchez Moccia)
08/04/2011 Argentina 0-1 Australia
09/04/2011 Argentina 0-0 Australia
Source: Argentina Hockey Media Release
