Goalkeeper David Carter earned his first shutout of the world league semifinals on Thursday as Canada's men's field hockey squad blanked Austria 3-0.
The victory is Canada's second straight to open semifinal action. The 15th-ranked Canadians are looking for a minimum of a third-place finish at the tournament, which would earn them a spot in the 2016 Rio Olympics.
"We knew Austria would sit back and we just had to be really patient with our game plan," said Carter, who was in net for Canada's 3-2 win over Spain on Wednesday to open round-robin play.
Mark Pearson scored for Canada in the 29th minute after picking up the ball and dragging a shot from the top left of the circle that beat Austrian keeper Mateusz Szymczyk.
There was some uncertainty whether Pearson released the ball inside or outside of the circle so the umpires called for a video review. After some deliberation, the goal was confirmed.
Early in the second half, Canada thought it had its second goal of the match when captain Scott Tupper's goal-mouth shot was deflected in. The umpires once again needed to go to video review and this time the replays showed the ball hitting and Austrian defender, not a Canadian stick, and therefore the goal was called off.
Julius Heimans had an excellent chance to tie the game for the 22nd-ranked Austrians, but a sliding Carter was able to turn the ball away — which would prove to be a momentum changer.
"I saw the player coming down on my left side, and out of the corner of my eye I saw the trailer who I thought he would pass it to," said Carter. "Luckily he did and I slid over and got my right pad on it."
Canada responded by doubling its lead in the 44th minute.
Gabriel Ho-Garcia found Devohn Noronha-Teixeira, who got in alone behind the Austrian defenders, chipped the ball around Szymczyk and then tapped it in.
Canada continued to press and Matthew Sarmento made it 3-0 when he got a clean break to the net in the 60th minute.
"Once we put that first one in we knew they'd have to come at us in the third and fourth (quarters) and we were able to put two more goals in to seal the victory," said Carter
Next up for Canada at the 10-team Olympic qualifier is sixth-ranked Argentina. The Canadians will face the host country on Saturday.
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