We saw lots of scoring this weekend, with all three teams winning one game apiece.
The first game of the set was on Thursday when the United States picked up a 2-0 win over China.
Looking at the score, you would be amazed to learn that China had 13 corners throughout the match, but managed not to score. Their corners lacked variation, with only one or two involving anything other than a drag flick.
In goal for the States, Kelsey Bing played another phenomenal match, making a total of 7 saves to keep China off the scoreboard.
The first goal from the Eagles came off a beautiful reverse hit from Sanne Caarls in the 27th minute.
Right after halftime, Amanda Golinio was able to work her way around the goalkeeper, who was on the floor and was able to make the score 2-0.
The next day the United States suffered a 4-1 loss against New Zealand.
The scoring started early in the match with a goal from Megan Hull in the fourth minute of the match. The goal came from a corner that was swept to the far post and slipped between the goalkeeper and the post.
The score was evened in the second. Leah Crouse worked her way away from the goalkeeper and did a little behind-the-back flick into the goal to make it a 1-1 game.
Just minutes into the second half, Olivia Shannon was able to split the goalkeeper’s legs to give New Zealand the 2-1 lead.
The United States then took a series of unsuccessful corners, unable to find anything. Halfway into the final quarter, they thought they had found the equalizing goal from Olivia Bent-Cole, but the video review showed that the ball had been hit by the back of the stick. It was one of the most powerful back-stick hits I had ever seen, or at least until the next day.
A minute later, a rather silly mistake from the USA allowed Hannah Cotter to make it a 3-1 lead for New Zealand.
With an open goal, Josie Hollamon tried to prevent a New Zealand goal but ultimately gave them a corner. Without a goalkeeper, there was not much to stop Megan Hull from making it a 4-1 match.
In the final match of the New Zealand series, China had a dominant 5-2 win over New Zealand.
Despite the score, China still failed to convert on a majority of their corners. They scored on 2 out of the 13 corners taken in the match. For comparison, New Zealand scored 1 of 5.
The first goal for China came off a penalty stroke taken by Bingfeng Gu. The goalkeeper had committed to going to her right and the ball went to the left.
On their first corner of the match, New Zealand was awarded a penalty stroke. Olivia Merry sent the ball to her left, while the goalkeeper went the other direction, evening the score at 1-1.
A few minutes after, Xiaoxue Zhang was able to pick up a rebound off the goalkeeper and sent a reverse hit into the goal.
Yang Chen quickly made the score 3-1, just four minutes later. This time the ball slipped passed the goalkeeper and Chen was waiting at the goalline for the tip.
New Zealand was determined to stay in the match. After earning a corner, the initial shot was rebounded, and Olivia Merry was able to score on the rebound.
With the match at 3-2 and under ten minutes left in the match, China earned a series of four corners, Finally on the fourth corner, Yang Chen was able to tip the ball over the goalkeeper and into the top of the net to make the score 4-2.
China then earned another penalty corner two minutes later and found success again. This time, Meiyu Liang placed the ball perfectly to make it a 5-2 game.
New Zealand has a pair of late-match corners but was not able to convert.
The FIH Pro League continues on Tuesday in Australia.